Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 75

Devanagari script

अत्यद्भुत महाप्राज्ञो निःस्पृहः सर्ववस्तुषु । गुरुशुश्रूषणपरो न्यस्तहस्ताग्रपुस्तकः

Transliteration

atyadbhuta mahāprājño niḥspṛhaḥ sarvavastuṣu | guruśuśrūṣaṇaparo nyastahastāgrapustakaḥ

Translation

അവൻ അത്യദ്ഭുതനും മഹാപ്രാജ്ഞനും, സർവ്വവസ്തുക്കളിലും നിസ്സ്പൃഹനും ആയിരുന്നു. ഗുരുശുശ്രൂഷയിൽ തത്പരനായി, താഴ്ത്തിയ കൈയുടെ അഗ്രത്തിൽ ഗ്രന്ഥം ധരിച്ചിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अत्यद्भुतः: most wonderful
• अत्यद्भुतः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक); ati-adbhuta (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifies the subject)

• महाप्राज्ञः: greatly wise
• महाप्राज्ञः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + prājña (प्रातिपदिक); mahā-prājña (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• निःस्पृहः: free from desire
• निःस्पृहः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niḥspṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सर्ववस्तुषु: in all things/objects
• सर्ववस्तुषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + vastu (प्रातिपदिक); sarva-vastu (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); अधिकरण (locus)

• गुरुशुश्रूषणपरः: devoted to serving the teacher
• गुरुशुश्रूषणपरः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guru + śuśrūṣaṇa + para (प्रातिपदिक); guru-śuśrūṣaṇa-para (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; ‘गुरोः शुश्रूषणायां परः’ (devoted to service of the guru)

• न्यस्तहस्ताग्रपुस्तकः: with a book placed at the hand’s front/tip (holding a book)
• न्यस्तहस्ताग्रपुस्तकः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nyasta + hasta + agra + pustaka (प्रातिपदिक); nyasta-hasta-agra-pustaka (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-Avimukta (śiṣya-dharma emphasis)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Naimiṣāraṇya sages (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant, otherworldly disciple (Garuḍa in refined form) stands or sits with a manuscript held respectfully at the lowered hand, eyes modestly downcast, posture attentive—embodying detachment and service.

Characters & Entities

• Guru (teacher figure)
• Disciple (contextually Garuḍa from prior verse)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True wisdom is joined with dispassion and humble service to the guru; learning becomes sacred when grounded in character.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No named tīrtha in this verse; it supports the Kāśī Māhātmya by teaching dharma through exemplary conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicit discipline is prescribed: guru-sevā (service to the teacher) and cultivation of niḥspṛhatā (non-attachment).