Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

नानाक्रीडागृहयुतो गीतवाद्यमनोहरः । गंधर्वनगराकारः संयुक्तः प्रत्यदृस्यत

Transliteration

nānākrīḍāgṛhayuto gītavādyamanoharaḥ | gaṃdharvanagarākāraḥ saṃyuktaḥ pratyadṛsyata

Translation

Mit vielerlei Lustpavillons geschmückt und durch Gesang und Musik betörend, erschien er vollständig ausgestattet, von Gestalt wie eine Stadt der Gandharvas.

Word by Word

• नानाक्रीडागृहयुतः: endowed with various play-houses
• नानाक्रीडागृहयुतः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना-क्रीडा-गृह-युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; नाना + क्रीडा + गृह + युक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘युक्त’; समासः तत्पुरुष (बहुविध-क्रिडागृहैः युक्तः)

• गीतवाद्यमनोहरः: delightful with song and music
• गीतवाद्यमनोहरः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गीत-वाद्य-मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक; गीत + वाद्य + मनोहर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (‘charming with songs and instruments’)

• गन्धर्वनगराकारः: shaped like a Gandharva city
• गन्धर्वनगराकारः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्धर्व-नगर-आकार (प्रातिपदिक; गन्धर्व + नगर + आकार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (‘having the form of a Gandharva-city’)

• संयुक्तः: assembled, joined
• संयुक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘joined/assembled’

• प्रत्यदृश्यत: was seen, appeared
• प्रत्यदृश्यत: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (passive-like sense)

Speaker

Nārada (continuing narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The vast chariot appears like a floating city: multiple pavilions, balconies, and pleasure-halls; musicians play lutes and drums; banners and garlands sway as it gleams, enchanting yet ominous.

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• gīta (song)
• vādya (music)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Outer splendor and sensual enchantment can accompany unrighteous power; Purāṇas often contrast such glamour with true dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse uses celestial-city imagery rather than a pilgrimage reference.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.