Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

मंदांदोलितकर्पूर कदलीदल संज्ञया । विश्रमाय श्रमापन्नानाहूयंतमिवाध्वगान्

Transliteration

maṃdāṃdolitakarpūra kadalīdala saṃjñayā | viśramāya śramāpannānāhūyaṃtamivādhvagān

Translation

D’une fraîcheur de camphre, doucement portée par les feuilles de bananier, il semblait appeler les voyageurs accablés, comme pour les convier à se reposer de leur peine.

Word by Word

• मन्द: gentle, slow
• मन्द: Sambandha (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्गे अव्ययवत् पूर्वपद-विशेषणम् (as prior qualifier in compound)

• आन्दोलितकर्पूर: swaying camphor (tree/plant)
• आन्दोलितकर्पूर: Sambandha (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आन्दोलितकर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक) = आन्दोलित + कर्पूर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine, nom/acc sg); कर्मधारय—आन्दोलितः कर्पूरः (swaying camphor)

• कदलीदल: banana leaf
• कदलीदल: Sambandha (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदलीदल (प्रातिपदिक) = कदली + दल
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nom/acc sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—कदल्याः दलम्

• संज्ञया: by the name/under the designation
• संज्ञया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (feminine, instrumental singular)

• विश्रमाय: for rest
• विश्रमाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (masculine, dative singular)

• श्रमापन्नान्: those who have become weary
• श्रमापन्नान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रमापन्न (प्रातिपदिक) = श्रम + आपन्न
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (masculine, accusative plural); समासः—श्रमम् आपन्नः इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थः

• आहूयन्तम्: calling, inviting
• आहूयन्तम्: Kriya (Verbal qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√ह्वा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—शतृ/शानच् वर्तमानकाले (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc acc sg); रूपम्: आह्वयन्तम् (आहूयन्तम् इति पाठभेद/सन्ध्यन्तर)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle: like/as if)

• अध्वगान्: travellers, wayfarers
• अध्वगान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (masculine, accusative plural)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A shaded banana grove with broad leaves; cool camphor-like breeze; weary pilgrims with staffs and waterpots are gently ‘invited’ by the landscape to sit and rest.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• kadalī (banana)
• karpūra (camphor)
• adhvaga (traveler/pilgrim)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The holy land supports pilgrims—Kāśī is depicted as compassionate, offering rest and relief as part of its sanctity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī-kṣetra in general, especially its shaded, cooling groves along pilgrimage paths.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; the verse implies the pilgrim journey (yātrā) and the kṣetra’s supportive grace.