Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

महापूजार्थमाल्यादि गुंफनार्थैस्त्रिकालतः । शंखभेरीमृदंगादिवाद्यनादैः शिवालये

Transliteration

mahāpūjārthamālyādi guṃphanārthaistrikālataḥ | śaṃkhabherīmṛdaṃgādivādyanādaiḥ śivālaye

Translation

Zum Zwecke der großen Pūjā, zu den drei Tageszeiten, durch das Ordnen und Flechten von Girlanden und dergleichen; und im Tempel Śivas durch den widerhallenden Klang der Instrumente—śaṅkha (Muschelhorn), bherī, mṛdaṅga und andere—(wird die Erhabenheit der Verehrung in Kāśī gefeiert).

Word by Word

• महापूजार्थम्: for the great worship
• महापूजार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-पूजा-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular); महत्याः पूजायाः अर्थः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of)

• माल्यादि: garlands and the like
• माल्यादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); ‘माल्यं च अन्यत्’ इत्याद्यर्थे (garlands etc.)

• गुंफनार्थैः: by items meant for stringing/weaving (garlands)
• गुंफनार्थैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुंफन-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); गुंफनस्य अर्थाः/उपकरणानि इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• त्रिकालतः: at the three times (daily thrice)
• त्रिकालतः: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि-कालतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्ययीभाव; त्रिषु कालेषु इति (at the three times—morning/noon/evening)

• शंखभेरीमृदंगादिवाद्यनादैः: by the sounds of instruments such as conch, kettle-drum, mṛdaṅga, etc.
• शंखभेरीमृदंगादिवाद्यनादैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख-भेरी-मृदंग-आदि-वाद्य-नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); शंखभेरीमृदंगादीनां वाद्यानां नादाः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (nested); आदि-समासान्त

• शिवालये: in the temple of Śiva
• शिवालये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवालय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular); शिवस्य आलयः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Śiva-ālaya network)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A grand Śiva-temple in Kāśī at the three daily worship times: garland-makers string fresh flowers; priests conduct mahāpūjā; musicians blow conch and beat bherī and mṛdaṅga; the sanctum glows while devotees fill the mandapa.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• Śiva
• śivālaya (Śiva temple)
• śaṅkha
• bherī
• mṛdaṅga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Regular, time-bound worship and beautification—supported by sacred sound—constitute elevated service in Śiva’s holy domain.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Śiva’s temples in Kāśī, highlighting their tri-kāla worship and ceremonial soundscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tri-kāla garland preparation for mahā-pūjā and the use of conch and drums as part of temple rites.