Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

ततो गणा नंदिमुखा रत्नानि प्रददुस्तथा । भूषणानि च वासांसि मुन्यादिभ्यो यथाक्रमम्

Transliteration

tato gaṇā naṃdimukhā ratnāni pradadustathā | bhūṣaṇāni ca vāsāṃsi munyādibhyo yathākramam

Translation

Daraufhin verteilten die Gaṇas, angeführt von Nandimukha, Edelsteine; ebenso Schmuck und Gewänder an die Weisen und die anderen, der rechten Ordnung gemäß.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana/Temporal (अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्ययम् (then/thereupon)

• गणाः: the attendants (gaṇas)
• गणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• नन्दिमुखाः: Nandin-led (gaṇas)
• नन्दिमुखाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दि + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः—नन्दिः मुखं येषाम् (those whose leader/face is Nandin; i.e., Nandin-faced/led)

• रत्नानि: gems
• रत्नानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• प्रददुः: gave
• प्रददुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• तथा: also
• तथा: Modifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (also/likewise)

• भूषणानि: ornaments
• भूषणानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• वासांसि: garments
• वासांसि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• मुन्यादिभ्यः: to sages and others
• मुन्यादिभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (Dative), बहुवचनम्; मुनयः आदयः येषाम् (to sages and others)

• यथाक्रमम्: in proper order
• यथाक्रमम्: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + क्रम (अव्यय-भाव)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अव्ययीभाव-समासः—क्रमानुसारम् (in due order)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva’s gaṇas led by Nandimukha ceremonially distribute jewels, ornaments, and fine garments to seated sages in an orderly sequence; the scene resembles a divine yajña-sabhā of generosity and honor.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇas
• Nandimukha
• Munis (sages)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Honoring the holy with gifts and proper hospitality is shown as a dhārmic act that supports sacred gatherings and increases merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The giving occurs within the Mandara-centered sacred assembly in this chapter’s māhātmya setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dāna-like honoring is described: distributing ratnas (jewels), bhūṣaṇas (ornaments), and vāsas (garments) to sages and attendees in proper order.