Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

रत्नवल्लीमिव स्वच्छां श्वेतद्वीपनिवासिनीम् । किरीटं पद्मरागाणां वलयं दधतं परम्

Transliteration

ratnavallīmiva svacchāṃ śvetadvīpanivāsinīm | kirīṭaṃ padmarāgāṇāṃ valayaṃ dadhataṃ param

Translation

রত্নলতার ন্যায় নির্মল ও উজ্জ্বল, শ্বেতদ্বীপ-নিবাসিনী দেবীর মতো দীপ্তিময়; তিনি পদ্মরাগ-মণিতে গঠিত পরম মুকুট ও বৃত্তাকার অলংকার ধারণ করলেন।

Word by Word

• ratna: jewel
• ratna: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — समासपूर्वपद

• vallīm: a creeper (of jewels)
• vallīm: Upamāna (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vallī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समस्तपद (ratna-vallī)

• iva: like; as
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (Comparator/उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• svacchām: clear; pure
• svacchām: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svaccha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (निवासिनीम् इति विशेषणम्)

• śveta: white
• śveta: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śveta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक — समासपूर्वपद

• dvīpa: island; continent
• dvīpa: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — समासमध्यपद

• nivāsinīm: (one) dwelling in Śvetadvīpa
• nivāsinīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivāsinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समस्तपद (śveta-dvīpa-nivāsinī)

• kirīṭam: crown
• kirīṭam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kirīṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• padmarāgāṇām: of rubies (padmarāga gems)
• padmarāgāṇām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padmarāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; समस्तपद (padma-rāga)

• valayam: bracelet; bangle
• valayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: valaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dadhatam: wearing; holding
• dadhatam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dadhat (कृदन्त; √dhā/धा)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; kirīṭam/valayam इत्यादीनि धारयन्तम् इति

• param: supreme; excellent
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; dadhatam इति विशेषणम्/विशेष्यविशेषणभावः

Speaker

Narrator (iconographic description)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ayodhyā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A luminous Viṣṇu figure envisioned in jewel-like clarity: a supreme crown and ruby circlet gleaming, evoking Śvetadvīpa’s celestial purity; the devotee’s gaze is fixed in reverent wonder.

Characters & Entities

• Śvetadvīpa
• Viṣṇu (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purity and splendor symbolize the transcendence of the Lord, guiding the devotee toward higher vision.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ayodhyā is the chapter’s praised sacred field; Śvetadvīpa is invoked as a celestial devotional locus.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it supports meditative worship through sacred imagery.