Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

एकदा देवदेवस्य सेवार्थं शशिमौलिनः । कैलासमगमद्विष्णुः पद्मयोनिपुरस्कृतः

Transliteration

ekadā devadevasya sevārthaṃ śaśimaulinaḥ | kailāsamagamadviṣṇuḥ padmayonipuraskṛtaḥ

Translation

Pada suatu ketika, demi berkhidmat kepada Dewa segala dewa, Tuhan yang bermahkota bulan, Viṣṇu—didahului oleh Padmayoni (Brahmā)—pergi ke Kailāsa.

Word by Word

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• देवदेवस्य: of the god of gods
• देवदेवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (देवः देवः)

• सेवार्थम्: for service
• सेवार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सेवायाः अर्थम्)

• शशिमौलिनः: of the moon-crested one (Śiva)
• शशिमौलिनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशि (प्रातिपदिक) + मौलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (शशिः मौलौ यस्य सः)

• कैलासम्: to Kailāsa
• कैलासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अगमत्: went
• अगमत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पद्मयोनिपुरस्कृतः: preceded/honoured with Padmayoni (Brahmā) in front
• पद्मयोनिपुरस्कृतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘पद्मयोनिः (ब्रह्मा) पुरतः कृतः/पुरस्कृतः’

Speaker

Skanda (narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kailāsa

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Viṣṇu, radiant and four-armed, proceeds toward snow-clad Kailāsa with Brahmā (Padmayoni) leading; the purpose is service to Śiva, evoking reverent procession through celestial space.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Śaśimauli)
• Viṣṇu
• Brahmā (Padmayoni)
• Kailāsa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the highest gods model devotion through sevā to Śiva, establishing service as a supreme religious ideal.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kailāsa is referenced as Śiva’s abode; within the chapter it supports the larger Kāśī-centered Liṅga narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Sevā (devotional service/attendance upon the deity) is emphasized, though no specific rite is itemized.