Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

रत्नभद्र इति ख्यातः पर्वते गंधमादने । यक्षः सुकृतलक्षश्रीः पुरा परम धार्मिकः

Transliteration

ratnabhadra iti khyātaḥ parvate gaṃdhamādane | yakṣaḥ sukṛtalakṣaśrīḥ purā parama dhārmikaḥ

Translation

Einst, auf dem Berge Gandhamādana, lebte ein Yakṣa, bekannt als Ratnabhadra, begabt mit dem Wohlstand aus vielen guten Taten und von höchster Rechtschaffenheit.

Word by Word

• रत्नभद्रः: Ratnabhadra (name)
• रत्नभद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्नभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—रत्न + भद्र (कर्मधारयः)

• इति: thus, called
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्ति/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ख्यातः: was known (as)
• ख्यातः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘प्रसिद्धः/विख्यातः’

• पर्वते: on/in the mountain
• पर्वते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• गन्धमादने: (on) Gandhamādana (mountain)
• गन्धमादने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धमादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः—गन्ध + मादन (तत्पुरुषः; नाम)

• यक्षः: a Yakṣa
• यक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुकृतलक्षश्रीः: endowed with merit-born fortune and splendor
• सुकृतलक्षश्रीः: Visheshana (Adjective of यक्षः/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुकृत + लक्ष्मी + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सुकृत-लक्ष्मी-श्री (तत्पुरुषः; ‘सुकृतजनिता लक्ष्मीश्रीः यस्य’)

• पुरा: formerly, once
• पुरा: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• परमः: supremely
• परमः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धार्मिकः: righteous
• धार्मिकः: Visheshana (Adjective of यक्षः/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gandhamādana-parvata (contextual sacred mountain)

Type: peak

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Primary interlocutor(s) of Kāśīkhaṇḍa discourse (traditionally sages/seekers)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant yakṣa-lord Ratnabhadra stands on fragrant Gandhamādana slopes amid flowering trees, jeweled ornaments, and attendant yakṣas; the mountain glows with otherworldly light.

Characters & Entities

• Ratnabhadra
• Yakṣa
• Gandhamādana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic storytelling links visible prosperity with accumulated sukṛta and emphasizes righteousness as the true ornament of fortune.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This verse names Gandhamādana as the narrative setting; the broader chapter context ultimately serves the glorification of Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it introduces a character whose past merit and dharma become central to the unfolding account.