Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

जय सर्वगणाधीश जय सर्व गणाग्रणीः । गणप्रणतपादाब्ज गणनातीतसद्गुण

Transliteration

jaya sarvagaṇādhīśa jaya sarva gaṇāgraṇīḥ | gaṇapraṇatapādābja gaṇanātītasadguṇa

Translation

ജയം, ഹേ സർവ്വഗണാധീശാ! ജയം, ഹേ എല്ലാ ഗണങ്ങളുടെയും അഗ്രണീ! ഗണങ്ങൾ പ്രണാമിക്കുന്ന പദ്മപാദങ്ങളുള്ളവനേ; എണ്ണിക്കൂടാത്ത സദ്ഗുണസമ്പന്നനേ!

Word by Word

• जय: hail
• जय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जय (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; जय-सम्बोधन

• सर्वगणाधीश: O lord of all gaṇas
• सर्वगणाधीश: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + अधीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां गणानाम् अधीशः)

• जय: hail
• जय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जय (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; जय-सम्बोधन

• सर्व: O all / universal
• सर्व: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गणाग्रणीः: O leader of the gaṇas
• गणाग्रणीः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्रणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गणानाम् अग्रणीः)

• गणप्रणतपादाब्ज: O whose lotus-feet are bowed to by the gaṇas
• गणप्रणतपादाब्ज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गणैः प्रणतं पादाब्जं यस्य)

• गणनातीतसद्गुण: O whose virtues surpass counting
• गणनातीतसद्गुण: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणना (प्रातिपदिक) + अतीत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गणनां अतीताः सद्गुणाः यस्य)

Speaker

Śiva

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Gaṇeśa (addressed)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotional tableau: hosts of gaṇas bow in rows to Gaṇeśa’s lotus feet while Śiva proclaims victory; the emphasis is on hierarchy, reverence, and immeasurable virtues radiating from Gaṇeśa.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇeśa
• Gaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True greatness is measured by limitless virtues and humble reverence—even divine attendants bow to the one who embodies auspicious mastery.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single site is named; the hymn supports the Kāśī Mahātmya narrative context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Praise of Gaṇeśa (jaya-stuti) is presented as an auspicious preliminary act.