Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

एक एव हि सर्वेशो हृषीकेशः परात्परः । तं सेवमानः सततं सेव्यस्त्रिजगतां भवेत्

Transliteration

eka eva hi sarveśo hṛṣīkeśaḥ parātparaḥ | taṃ sevamānaḥ satataṃ sevyastrijagatāṃ bhavet

Translation

For the Lord of all is one alone—Hṛṣīkeśa, higher than the highest. One who serves Him constantly becomes worthy of being served and honored by the three worlds.

Word by Word

• एकः: one
• एकः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘सर्वेशः’ इति विशेषणम्

• एव: only
• एव: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात

• हि: indeed
• हि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed/for)

• सर्वेशः: Lord of all
• सर्वेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषाम् ईशः)

• हृषीकेशः: Hṛṣīkeśa (Lord of the senses)
• हृषीकेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीक (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हृषीकाणाम् ईशः)

• परात्: than the higher
• परात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; तुलनार्थक (than the higher)

• परः: higher; supreme
• परः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘सर्वेशः/हृषीकेशः’ इति विधेयविशेषणम्

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘सेवमानः’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• सेवमानः: serving (him)
• सेवमानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) → सेवमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययः (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तरि (one who is serving)

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक-एकवचन-द्वितीया रूपेण क्रियाविशेषणवत् (constantly)

• सेव्यः: worthy of being served
• सेव्यः: Vidhi (कर्तव्यता/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् (धातु) → सेव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भाव्य/कर्तव्य (gerundive -ya) ‘सेवितव्यः/सेव्यः’

• त्रिजगताम्: of the three worlds
• त्रिजगताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन (जगताम्); द्विगुसमासः (त्रीणि जगन्ति)

• भवेत्: would become; should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Vyāsa (deduced from immediate narrative context in the same adhyāya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Hṛṣīkeśa enthroned in transcendent radiance above the cityscape; below, a devotee engaged in constant service is honored by representatives of the three worlds—devas, humans, and nāgas/gandharvas—offering garlands and salutations.

Characters & Entities

• Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu)
• Three worlds (trijagat)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Supreme is one (Hṛṣīkeśa); constant service to him elevates a devotee to spiritual dignity recognized across the worlds.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha is named; the verse is framed within the Kāśī-khaṇḍa’s broader sacred setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Satat-sevā: continuous devotional service.