Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

प्रतीक्षमाणो देवेश त्वदामनमुत्तमम् । विभज्य बहुधात्मानं त्वदाराधनतत्परः

Transliteration

pratīkṣamāṇo deveśa tvadāmanamuttamam | vibhajya bahudhātmānaṃ tvadārādhanatatparaḥ

Translation

ข้าแต่พระเป็นเจ้าแห่งเทพทั้งปวง ข้าพเจ้ารอรับพระบัญชาสูงสุดของพระองค์ จึงแบ่งตนเป็นหลายภาคหลายรูป และตั้งมั่นในอาราธนาพระองค์

Word by Word

• प्रतीक्षमाणः: waiting, expecting
• प्रतीक्षमाणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः (present active participle), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• देवेश: O Lord of gods
• देवेश: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेश (प्रातिपदिक) [देव + ईश]
• Form: सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (vocative), एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् ईशः)

• त्वत्: your
• त्वत्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्/त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (2nd person)

• आमनम्: instruction, teaching
• आमनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गः

• उत्तमम्: excellent, supreme
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गः; विशेषणम् (आमनम्)

• विभज्य: having divided/apportioned
• विभज्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + भज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of manner)

• आत्मानम्: self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; आत्मशब्दः

• त्वत्: your
• त्वत्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्/त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• आराधन: worship, propitiation
• आराधन: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आराधन (प्रातिपदिक) [आ + राध् (धातु) + ल्युट्]
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिकम्; समासपूर्वपदम् (in compound)

• तत्परः: intent on, devoted to
• तत्परः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (तस्मिन् परः = तत्परः), विशेषणम् (प्रतीक्षमाणः)

Speaker

Arka (Sūrya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/saṃvāda audience (typical Kāśīkhaṇḍa frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Ravi (the Sun) stands in reverent posture, awaiting Śiva’s command; his radiance subtly refracted into multiple emanations, suggesting ‘dividing into many forms’ while remaining absorbed in worship.

Characters & Entities

• Arka (Sūrya)
• Śiva (Deveśa)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True devotion means waiting upon the divine command and dedicating one’s powers to worship rather than ego.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The devotion unfolds within the Kāśī-kathā context, reinforcing Kāśī as Śiva’s sphere of command.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Ārādhana (devotional worship) is emphasized, though no specific mantra, vrata, or offering is detailed.