Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

तत्पुरं कामगं दिव्यं स्वर्णप्राकारतोरणम् । अनेकगृहसम्बाधं मणिकाञ्चनभूषितम्

Transliteration

tatpuraṃ kāmagaṃ divyaṃ svarṇaprākāratoraṇam | anekagṛhasambādhaṃ maṇikāñcanabhūṣitam

Translation

Jene Stadt war göttlich und wundersam, nach Willen erscheinend; ihre Mauern und Tore waren aus Gold, dicht gedrängt von unzähligen Häusern, geschmückt mit Edelsteinen und glänzendem Gold.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun) used adjectivally, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of पुरम्

• पुरम्: city
• पुरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कामगम्: moving at will
• कामगम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of पुरम्; समास: कामेन गच्छति (desire-moving)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of पुरम्

• स्वर्णप्राकारतोरणम्: with golden ramparts and gateways
• स्वर्णप्राकारतोरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण + प्राकार + तोरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of पुरम्; समासार्थ: स्वर्णस्य प्राकाराः तोरणानि च यस्य/यत्र (golden ramparts and gateways)

• अनेकगृहसम्बाधम्: densely packed with many houses
• अनेकगृहसम्बाधम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक + गृह + सम्बाध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of पुरम्; समास: अनेकैः गृहैः सम्बाधम् (crowded with many houses)

• मणिकाञ्चनभूषितम्: adorned with gems and gold
• मणिकाञ्चनभूषितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि + काञ्चन + भूषित (भूष्-धातु → क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) used adjectivally; विशेषण of पुरम्; समास: मणिभिः काञ्चनेन च भूषितम्

Speaker

The two dānavas in crow-form (continuing their report)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A divine city that seems to manifest at will: golden walls and archways, dense mansions, surfaces studded with gems and gold, shimmering like a celestial court-city.

Characters & Entities

• Yamapura

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even magnificent otherworldly realms remain within the karmic order; the text contrasts such domains with the higher refuge granted by sacred tīrthas.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None directly in this verse; it describes Yamapura within the narrative that culminates in praise of Śukla Tīrtha on the Narmadā.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a descriptive passage.