Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

एक एव हि सारोत्र संसारे क्षणभंगुरे । कमलाकांत पादाब्ज भक्तिभावोऽखिलप्रदः

Transliteration

eka eva hi sārotra saṃsāre kṣaṇabhaṃgure | kamalākāṃta pādābja bhaktibhāvo'khilapradaḥ

Translation

Dans ce monde éphémère et fragile, une seule chose est l’essence : la bhakti aimante aux pieds de lotus de Kamalākānta, Seigneur de Lakṣmī, qui accorde tous les biens.

Word by Word

• एकः: one, single
• एकः: Visheshya-predication (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — predicate adjective

• एव: only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — निपात (emphatic: only/indeed)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — निपात (indeed/for)

• सारः: essence
• सारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — देशवाचक (adverb of place: here)

• संसारे: in worldly existence
• संसारे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• क्षणभंगुरे: momentary, perishable
• क्षणभंगुरे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षण + भंगुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — qualifying संसारे

• कमलाकान्त: O beloved of Lakshmi
• कमलाकान्त: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमला + कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन — vocative (O beloved of Kamalā/Śrī)

• पादाब्ज: lotus-feet
• पादाब्ज: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — ‘lotus-feet’ (as a unit)

• भक्तिभावः: devotional attitude
• भक्तिभावः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — ‘state/feeling of devotion’

• अखिलप्रदः: granting all (boons)
• अखिलप्रदः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — qualifying भक्तिभावः

Speaker

Nārada (continuing speech)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: The king

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A symbolic devotional image: the lotus-feet of Kamalākānta (Viṣṇu) resting on a lotus, with Lakṣmī nearby; the fleeting world shown as dissolving mist behind, while the devotee (king) clings to the feet in steady love.

Characters & Entities

• Kamalākānta (Viṣṇu)
• Lakṣmī (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Because the world is impermanent, the lasting refuge is bhakti to the Lord, which grants both worldly and spiritual good.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named; the verse fits the Kāśī teaching atmosphere that prioritizes liberation-oriented devotion.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No external rite; it prescribes the inner practice of bhakti at the Lord’s lotus-feet.