Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वाप्सरःसंकीर्णे विमाने सूर्यसन्निभे । वीज्यमानो वरस्त्रीभिर्दैवतैः सह मोदते

Transliteration

gandharvāpsaraḥsaṃkīrṇe vimāne sūryasannibhe | vījyamāno varastrībhirdaivataiḥ saha modate

Translation

In einem strahlenden himmlischen Vimāna, sonnenhell und erfüllt von Gandharvas und Apsaras, von edlen Frauen befächelt, erfreut er sich in der Gemeinschaft der Götter.

Word by Word

• गन्धर्व-अप्सरः-संकीर्णे: in (a) chariot filled with Gandharvas and Apsarases
• गन्धर्व-अप्सरः-संकीर्णे: Adhikarana (Location qualifier/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + संकीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (गन्धर्वैः अप्सरभिः च संकीर्णम्); agreeing with ‘विमाने’

• विमाने: in the aerial chariot
• विमाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• सूर्य-सन्निभे: (in it) resembling the sun
• सूर्य-सन्निभे: Adhikarana (Location qualifier/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सूर्यस्य सन्निभम्); agreeing with ‘विमाने’

• वीज्यमानः: being fanned
• वीज्यमानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीज् (धातु)
• Form: वीज्-धातोः शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘being fanned’

• वर-स्त्रीभिः: by excellent women
• वर-स्त्रीभिः: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (वराः स्त्रियः); Instrumental plural

• दैवतैः: with the gods/divinities
• दैवतैः: Sahakari (Associate/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (Association/सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहकारार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable: with)

• मोदते: rejoices
• मोदते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘rejoices’

Speaker

Sūta (deduced, Revā Khaṇḍa narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant sun-like vimāna in the sky, crowded with gandharvas and apsarases; the meritorious pilgrim seated in splendor, being fanned by noble women; devas nearby in celebration; clouds and light rays emphasize akṣaya enjoyment.

Characters & Entities

• Gandharva
• Apsaras
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Merit gained through tīrtha-based austerity is depicted as leading to exalted heavenly attainments and divine companionship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse continues the phala-śruti tied to the tīrtha described in Adhyāya 29—centered on the Narmadā and the Kāverī–Narmadā confluence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No new prescription here; it elaborates the reward (phala) of the previously mentioned fast at the tīrtha.