Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

वज्रवैदूर्य दीपानि हरिद्रा लेपनानि च । गारुत्मतैकरूपाणि शंखशुक्तिदधीनि च

Transliteration

vajravaidūrya dīpāni haridrā lepanāni ca | gārutmataikarūpāṇi śaṃkhaśuktidadhīni ca

Translation

There were lamps of diamond and vaidūrya (cat’s-eye), and anointments of turmeric; articles of a single Garuḍa-like sheen, and also conches, oyster-shells, and curd, set forth as auspicious offerings.

Word by Word

• वज्र-वैदूर्य: of diamond and vaidūrya
• वज्र-वैदूर्य: Karman (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वैदूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (dvandva) used adjectivally with ‘दीपानि’: ‘(made of) diamond and vaidūrya (cat’s-eye)’

• दीपानि: lamps
• दीपानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन

• हरिद्रा: turmeric
• हरिद्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (collective)

• लेपनानि: smearings, ointments
• लेपनानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• गारुत्मत-एक-रूपाणि: of a single garuḍa-like form
• गारुत्मत-एक-रूपाणि: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गारुत्मत (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘of one form like Garuḍa/emerald-like’ (contextual epithet)

• शङ्ख-शुक्ति-दधीनि: conches, oyster-shells, and curds
• शङ्ख-शुक्ति-दधीनि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘conch, oyster-shell, and curds’ (as items)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (pūjā context implied)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A gleaming altar-like arrangement: diamond and vaidūrya lamps, turmeric paste bowls, shimmering Garuḍa-hued objects, conches and oyster shells, and a vessel of curd—set as auspicious worship articles.

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• vajra (diamond)
• vaidūrya (cat’s-eye)
• haridrā (turmeric)
• śaṅkha (conch)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion is expressed through auspicious substances—light, purity, and sacred articles—symbolizing inner illumination and благой intent.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse belongs to the Kāśī-khaṇḍa milieu; it lists auspicious items rather than a specific named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implied pūjā/maṅgala usage of lamps, turmeric paste, conch, and auspicious food (curd); no explicit procedural injunction is given.