Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

यदस्ति मेखिलं तत्र सप्तांगेपि भवान्प्रभुः । यजस्वैकमनाब्रह्मन्सिद्धं मन्यस्व वांछितम्

Transliteration

yadasti mekhilaṃ tatra saptāṃgepi bhavānprabhuḥ | yajasvaikamanābrahmansiddhaṃ manyasva vāṃchitam

Translation

എനിക്ക് ഉള്ളതെല്ലാം—രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ സപ്താംഗങ്ങളോടുകൂടി—മുഴുവനും നിങ്ങളുടെ അധീനത്തിലാണ്. ഹേ ബ്രാഹ്മണാ, ഏകാഗ്രചിത്തത്തോടെ യജ്ഞം നിർവഹിക്കൂ; അഭീഷ്ടം സിദ്ധമായതായി കരുതൂ.

Word by Word

• yat: whatever/that which
• yat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• asti: is/exists
• asti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• me: of me/my
• me: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th, Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• akhilam: entire/whole
• akhilam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• tatra: there/in that (matter/place)
• tatra: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• sapta-aṅge: in the seven-limbed (state/realm)
• sapta-aṅge: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th, Locative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास; ‘सप्ताङ्ग’ = seven limbs (of a kingdom)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक निपात (particle: even/also)

• bhavān: you (honorific)
• bhavān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st, Nominative), एकवचन; आदरार्थक सर्वनाम

• prabhuḥ: lord/master
• prabhuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• yajasva: perform sacrifice/worship
• yajasva: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• eka-manāḥ: single-minded
• eka-manāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय; ‘एकमनाः’ = single-minded

• brahman: O Brahmin
• brahman: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th, Vocative), एकवचन

• siddham: accomplished/fulfilled
• siddham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• manyasva: consider/think
• manyasva: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• vāñchitam: desired/wished-for
• vāñchitam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāñchita (प्रातिपदिक; √vāñch)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) विशेषण

Speaker

A dharmaśīla king (addressing a Brāhmaṇa guest/priest)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A king, hands folded, offers his entire realm—symbolized by regalia and seven-fold insignia—to a seated brāhmaṇa-ṛtvik near a sacred Kāśī shrine; attendants hold ritual vessels; the mood is reverent and restrained.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Rājya (kingdom)
• Saptāṅga (seven limbs of the state)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True dharma is generosity and humility—offering even royal power in service of yajña and the worthy.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching belongs to the Kāśīkhaṇḍa, framing dharma within the sanctifying atmosphere of Kāśī (Vārāṇasī).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The king urges the Brāhmaṇa to perform the yajña with ekāgratā (single-pointed focus), supported by royal resources.