Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

चित्ररत्नवितानाढ्यं मुक्तादामविराजितम् । मुनिभिस्सिद्धगंधर्वैर्यक्षचारणकिन्नरैः

Transliteration

citraratnavitānāḍhyaṃ muktādāmavirājitam | munibhissiddhagaṃdharvairyakṣacāraṇakinnaraiḥ

Translation

Il était orné d’un splendide dais incrusté de gemmes merveilleuses et rendu lumineux par des guirlandes de perles ; tout autour se tenaient, en service et en escorte, les munis, les Siddhas, les Gandharvas, les Yakṣas, les Cāraṇas et les Kinnaras.

Word by Word

• चित्र-रत्न-वितान-आढ्यम्: rich with a canopy of variegated jewels
• चित्र-रत्न-वितान-आढ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + वितान (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (describes an implied object, e.g., vimāna/maṇḍapa)

• मुक्ता-दाम-विराजितम्: adorned with garlands of pearls
• मुक्ता-दाम-विराजितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + दाम (प्रातिपदिक) + विराजित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• सिद्ध-गन्धर्वैः: by siddhas and gandharvas
• सिद्ध-गन्धर्वैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (siddhas and gandharvas)

• यक्ष-चारण-किन्नरैः: by yakṣas, cāraṇas, and kinnaras
• यक्ष-चारण-किन्नरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + चारण (प्रातिपदिक) + किन्नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (yakṣas, cāraṇas, and kinnaras)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Munis
• Siddhas
• Gandharvas
• Yakshas
• Charanas
• Kinnaras

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse portrays a sanctified, luminous setting where multiple orders of beings gather—signifying that Shiva’s sacred presence (and the dharmic atmosphere around it) harmonizes all realms, from human sages to celestial attendants.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The jeweled canopy and pearl garlands indicate reverential upacāra (ritual honor) offered to Saguna Shiva—devotion expressed through beauty, purity, and orderly attendance, which is central to Linga worship in the Purana tradition.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies śuddhi and upacāra: creating a pure worship-space, offering fragrant and radiant items, and maintaining sattvic company—practically expressed through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined pūjā with bhasma and rudrākṣa where applicable.