Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

शङ्खतूर्यनिनादेन जयशब्दादिमङ्गलैः । रक्ताम्बरधरं विप्रं रक्तमाल्यानुलेपनम्

Transliteration

śaṅkhatūryaninādena jayaśabdādimaṅgalaiḥ | raktāmbaradharaṃ vipraṃ raktamālyānulepanam

Translation

Beim Widerhall von Muschelhörnern (śaṅkha) und Instrumenten, und unter glückverheißenden Siegesrufen und dergleichen, ehre man einen Brāhmaṇa in roten Gewändern, geschmückt mit roten Girlanden und roten Salbungen.

Word by Word

• शङ्खतूर्यनिनादेन: by the blare of conch and instruments
• शङ्खतूर्यनिनादेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + तूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + निनाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण); एकवचन — ‘by the sound of conch and instruments’; समासः (तत्पुरुष)

• जयशब्दादिमङ्गलैः: with auspicious cries starting with ‘jaya’
• जयशब्दादिमङ्गलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण); बहुवचन — ‘with auspicious (cries) beginning with “jaya”’; समासः (तत्पुरुष)

• रक्ताम्बरधरम्: wearing red garments
• रक्ताम्बरधरम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन — qualifying विप्रम्; समासः (तत्पुरुष): रक्तम् अम्बरं धरति इति

• विप्रम्: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म); एकवचन — Accusative singular

• रक्तमाल्यानुलेपनम्: with red garlands and red unguent
• रक्तमाल्यानुलेपनम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन — qualifying विप्रम्; समासः (द्वन्द्व/समाहार): रक्तमाल्यं च रक्तानुलेपनं च

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā) tīrtha milieu

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pāṇḍunandana (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A celebratory ritual moment: conch blown, drums and horns sounding; a brāhmaṇa in red attire stands or is led forward, wearing red garlands and anointed with red paste, surrounded by worshippers.

Characters & Entities

• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)
• Śaṅkha
• Tūrya
• Maṅgala

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld by honoring the worthy—publicly and auspiciously—through reverent hospitality and ritual respect.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Revā-khaṇḍa setting associates the act with Narmadā-region merit; this verse highlights ceremonial honor rather than site-glorification.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform auspicious sounds (conch, instruments, victory cries) while honoring a brāhmaṇa dressed and adorned in red.