Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 80

Devanagari script

यत्रातिमित्रतेजोभिः शलाकाभिः समंततः । मणिमाणिक्यरत्नानां प्रासादेभित्तयः कृताः

Transliteration

yatrātimitratejobhiḥ śalākābhiḥ samaṃtataḥ | maṇimāṇikyaratnānāṃ prāsādebhittayaḥ kṛtāḥ

Translation

There, on every side, with rod-like inlays blazing with radiance surpassing the sun, the very walls of the palace-temple are fashioned of gems—rubies and other precious jewels.

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location marker/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• अतिमित्रतेजोभिः: by extremely bright splendors
• अतिमित्रतेजोभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति + मित्र + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (अतिमित्रं तेजः)

• शलाकाभिः: with rods/pins (inlay pieces)
• शलाकाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शलाका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: परितोवाचक अव्यय (adverb: on all sides)

• मणिमाणिक्यरत्नानाम्: of gems, rubies, and jewels
• मणिमाणिक्यरत्नानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि + माणिक्य + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (मणयः च माणिक्यानि च रत्नानि च)

• प्रासादेभित्तयः: the walls of the palace/temple
• प्रासादेभित्तयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद + भित्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (प्रासादस्य भित्तयः)

• कृताः: were made
• कृताः: Kriya (Predicate state/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘made’

Speaker

Kārpaṭika (continuation, inferred)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Viśveśvara (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Himavān (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close-up architectural splendor: temple walls made of rubies and precious gems, with rod-like inlays blazing like miniature suns. Light refracts across corridors; devotees appear small against the radiant surfaces, emphasizing transcendence through beauty.

Characters & Entities

• Viśveśvara-prāsāda (implied)
• Viśvakarman (implied)
• Gems (maṇi, māṇikya, ratna)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Lord’s abode is depicted as supremely radiant, teaching that devotion expresses itself in offering the finest beauty and craftsmanship to the deity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Viśveśvara temple complex in Kāśī (implied by the surrounding narrative).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit prescription; it is a māhātmya-style glorification of the temple’s divine splendor.