Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

विमानैश्चाद्भुताकारैः किंनरोद्गीतनादितैः । दुन्दुभिभिर्गोविषाणैस्तालैः शंखैश्च नादितैः

Transliteration

vimānaiścādbhutākāraiḥ kiṃnarodgītanāditaiḥ | dundubhibhirgoviṣāṇaistālaiḥ śaṃkhaiśca nāditaiḥ

Translation

অদ্ভুত আকাৰৰ বিমান আছিল, যিবোৰত কিন্নৰসকলৰ গীতৰ ধ্বনি গুঞ্জৰি আছিল। দুন্দুভি, গো-বিষাণ, তাল আৰু শঙ্খৰ নাদে আকাশ গৰ্জি উঠিল।

Word by Word

• vimānaiḥ: by aerial chariots
• vimānaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• adbhuta-ākāraiḥ: of wondrous forms
• adbhuta-ākāraiḥ: Karana (Instrument qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयसमास (अद्भुतः आकारः येषाम्)

• kiṃnara-udgīta-nāditaiḥ: resounding with songs sung by Kiṃnaras
• kiṃnara-udgīta-nāditaiḥ: Karana (Instrument qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kiṃnara (प्रातिपदिक) + udgīta (उद्√गै, क्त) + nādita (√nad, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (‘किंनरैः उद्गीतैः नादितैः’ = resounded by songs sung by Kiṃnaras)

• dundubhibhiḥ: by drums
• dundubhibhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• go-viṣāṇaiḥ: by cow-horns
• go-viṣāṇaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (गोः विषाणम्)

• tālaiḥ: by cymbals
• tālaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• śaṃkhaiḥ: by conches
• śaṃkhaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• nāditaiḥ: resounding
• nāditaiḥ: Karana (Instrument qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √nad (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (agreeing with instruments; ‘with resounding [sounds]’)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The sky is crowded with wondrously shaped vimānas; kinnara singers fill the air with song while drums, cow-horns, cymbals, and conches create a rolling, auspicious thunder.

Characters & Entities

• Kiṃnaras
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The defense of dharma is portrayed as a sacred procession—music and auspicious instruments accompany divine action.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse emphasizes celestial grandeur.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is descriptive of divine instruments and celebration.