Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

गंगाभक्तिमतामर्थे महेंद्रादि पुरेषु च । हर्म्याणि रम्यभोगानि निर्मितानि स्वयंभुवा

Transliteration

gaṃgābhaktimatāmarthe maheṃdrādi pureṣu ca | harmyāṇi ramyabhogāni nirmitāni svayaṃbhuvā

Translation

Pour le bien des dévots de la Gaṅgā, dans les cités de Mahendra et des autres dieux, Svayambhū (Brahmā) lui-même a façonné de splendides demeures et de doux plaisirs.

Word by Word

• गङ्गाभक्तिमताम्: of those devoted to the Ganga
• गङ्गाभक्तिमताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्तिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गङ्गायां भक्तिः येषाम्)

• अर्थे: for the sake (of)
• अर्थे: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे सप्तमी (for the sake of)

• महेन्द्रादि: beginning with Mahendra (Indra)
• महेन्द्रादि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन (अव्ययवत्); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (महेन्द्रः आदिः यस्य)

• पुरेषु: in the cities
• पुरेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• हर्म्याणि: palaces/mansions
• हर्म्याणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• रम्यभोगानि: having delightful enjoyments
• रम्यभोगानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (रम्याः भोगाः येषु)

• निर्मितानि: built/created
• निर्मितानि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मित (कृदन्त; √मा (धातु) उपसर्ग-निर्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) — ‘constructed’

• स्वयम्भुवा: by Svayambhu (Brahma)
• स्वयम्भुवा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम्भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देश (by Svayambhū = Brahmā)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā

Type: river

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A visionary panorama of Indra’s city: jeweled palaces, gardens, apsarases, and divine music; a Gaṅgā-bhakta is welcomed into a radiant mansion said to be fashioned by Brahmā, with Gaṅgā’s emblem (water-pot/lotus) marking the devotee’s identity.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Mahendra (Indra)
• Svayambhū (Brahmā)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Gaṅgā-bhakti is honored across the cosmos; devotees are promised exalted posthumous rewards in divine realms.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Gaṅgā, whose devotees are celebrated even in the celestial cities associated with Indra and other gods.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No single rite is specified; the verse emphasizes sustained devotion (bhakti) to Gaṅgā as the qualifying practice.