Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

कह्लारैः कमलैश्चापि चर्चितानि समंततः । कदंबैश्चक्रवाकैश्च तथैव जलकुक्कुटैः

Transliteration

kahlāraiḥ kamalaiścāpi carcitāni samaṃtataḥ | kadaṃbaiścakravākaiśca tathaiva jalakukkuṭaiḥ

Translation

Everywhere those waters were ornamented with kahlāra lilies and lotuses, and likewise with kadamba trees, cakravāka birds, and waterfowl—enhancing the splendor of the sacred place.

Word by Word

• कह्लारैः: by/with kahlāra lotuses
• कह्लारैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कह्लार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कमलैः: by/with lotuses
• कमलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक अव्यय; particle ‘also’

• चर्चितानि: adorned/covered
• चर्चितानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर्च् (धातु) → चर्चित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Past passive participle, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Plural

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Desha-adhikarana (Locative sense/देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक; adverb ‘on all sides/everywhere’

• कदंबैः: by/with kadamba trees
• कदंबैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• चक्रवाकैः: by/with cakravāka birds
• चक्रवाकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्रवाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक; adverb ‘thus/also’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय; particle ‘indeed/just’

• जलकुक्कुटैः: by/with waterfowl (water-cocks)
• जलकुक्कुटैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + कुक्कुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जलस्य कुक्कुटः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive tatpuruṣa, Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra sarovara-parisara (lakeside sacred environs)

Type: kund

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The lakes are ringed with kahlāra and kamala blossoms; kadamba trees lean over the banks; pairs of cakravāka birds call; waterfowl dot the surface, making the tīrtha sparkle with life.

Characters & Entities

• Prabhāsakṣetra
• kahlāra
• kamala
• kadamba
• cakravāka
• jalakukkuṭa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The tīrtha is portrayed as naturally “ornamented,” implying divine favor and a setting fit for pilgrimage, worship, and purification.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsakṣetra (Prabhāsa), especially its lotus-filled waters.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; the verse continues the celebratory description of the holy environment.