Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

दधतीं दक्षिणे हस्ते कमलं सुमनोहरम् । अक्षमालां तथान्यस्मिञ्जिततारक वर्चसम्

Transliteration

dadhatīṃ dakṣiṇe haste kamalaṃ sumanoharam | akṣamālāṃ tathānyasmiñjitatāraka varcasam

Translation

Er stellte sie dar, wie sie in einer rechten Hand einen überaus schönen Lotus hält und in einer anderen Hand eine Akṣamālā, strahlend in einem Glanz, der die Sterne übertrifft.

Word by Word

• दधतीम्: holding
• दधतीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, परस्मैपद-भाव); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; देवीम् विशेषयति

• दक्षिणे: in the right
• दक्षिणे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; हस्ते इत्यस्य विशेषण

• हस्ते: in (her) hand
• हस्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• कमलम्: lotus
• कमलम्: Karma (Object held/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• सुमनोहरम्: very beautiful
• सुमनोहरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अत्यन्तं मनोहरम्)

• अक्षमालाम्: rosary
• अक्षमालाम्: Karma (Object held/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अक्षाणां माला)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यक्रिया (also/likewise)

• अन्यस्मिन्: in another (one)
• अन्यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; 'in another (hand)'

• जिततारकवर्चसम्: having splendor surpassing the stars
• जिततारकवर्चसम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (जि धातु, क्त) + तारक + वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: (तारकस्य वर्चः) जितम् यस्य तत्

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic storyteller; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa in a māhātmya narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Sarasvatī-tīrtha (implied)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close focus on the forming idol’s hands: a graceful lotus in the right hand; a radiant rosary in another, sparkling brighter than stars.

Characters & Entities

• Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)
• Kamala (lotus)
• Akṣamālā (rosary)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Goddess embodies both purity (lotus) and disciplined practice (rosary/japa), guiding seekers toward inner clarity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narration continues a Sarasvatī-centered river-tīrtha worship context in Nāgarakhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicitly highlights japa (rosary practice) as part of Sarasvatī/Bhāratī devotion.