Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

नरनारीसमाकीर्णं नित्योत्सवविभूषितम् । शंखदुन्दुभिर्निर्घोषैर्वीणावेणुनिनादितम्

Transliteration

naranārīsamākīrṇaṃ nityotsavavibhūṣitam | śaṃkhadundubhirnirghoṣairvīṇāveṇunināditam

Translation

Peuplée d’hommes et de femmes, parée de fêtes qui semblaient sans fin ; elle résonnait du fracas des conques et des tambours, et vibrait au son de la vīṇā et de la flûte.

Word by Word

• नरनारीसमाकीर्णम्: crowded with men and women
• नरनारीसमाकीर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर + नारी + समाकीर्ण (कॄ/कीर्-धातु → सम्-आ-कीर्ण, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण of पुरम्; समास: नरैः नारीभिश्च समाकीर्णम् (crowded with men and women)

• नित्योत्सवविभूषितम्: adorned with perpetual festivals
• नित्योत्सवविभूषितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य + उत्सव + विभूषित (भूष्-धातु → वि-भूषित, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण of पुरम्; समास: नित्यैः उत्सवैः विभूषितम् (adorned by constant festivals)

• शंखदुन्दुभिः: with conches and drums
• शंखदुन्दुभिः: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख + दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्व: शंखाश्च दुन्दुभयश्च

• निर्घोषैः: with loud sounds
• निर्घोषैः: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वीणावेणुनिनादितम्: resounding with vīṇā and flute music
• वीणावेणुनिनादितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीणा + वेणु + निनादित (नद्-धातु → नि-नादित, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण of पुरम्; समास: वीणाभिः वेणुभिश्च निनादितम् (sounded with vīṇā and flute)

Speaker

Unspecified (Revā Khaṇḍa narrator; likely Sūta in the frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A bustling divine boulevard: men and women in festive attire, banners and lamps, conches and kettledrums sounding, musicians playing vīṇā and flute; the city feels like an unending sacred festival.

Characters & Entities

• Yama (implicit via Yama-mārga context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse suggests that higher order and celebration can coexist with judgment, implying that dharma ultimately supports harmony and auspiciousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not an earthly tīrtha; it depicts a splendid settlement in the Yama-mārga narrative of the Revā Khaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; musical imagery is descriptive, not a rite.