Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

कांचीमुख्यासु पुण्यासु पुरीष्वप्यगमं तदा । ऋषिभिर्विबुधैः सार्थैर्गणैर्योगिभिरुत्तमैः

Transliteration

kāṃcīmukhyāsu puṇyāsu purīṣvapyagamaṃ tadā | ṛṣibhirvibudhaiḥ sārthairgaṇairyogibhiruttamaiḥ

Translation

Alors je me rendis aussi dans les cités saintes—Kāñcī en tête—accompagné de troupes de ṛṣi, d’êtres célestes, de gaṇa et des plus éminents yogin.

Word by Word

• कांचीमुख्यासु: in (cities) headed by Kāñcī
• कांचीमुख्यासु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्ची-मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक; काञ्ची + मुख्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पुरीषु)

• पुण्यासु: in holy
• पुण्यासु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पुरीषु)

• पुरीषु: in cities
• पुरीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• अगमम्: I went
• अगमम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/लुङ्), प्रथमपुरुष?; उत्तमपुरुष एकवचन (1st person singular) परस्मैपद; रूपम्: अगमम् = ‘I went’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time: then)

• ऋषिभिः: with sages
• ऋषिभिः: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; सहकारक (instrumental of accompaniment)

• विबुधैः: with wise/divine beings
• विबुधैः: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; सहकारक

• सार्थैः: in groups/companies
• सार्थैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ऋषिभिः/विबुधैः)

• गणैः: with troops/attendants
• गणैः: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; सहकारक

• योगिभिः: with yogins
• योगिभिः: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; सहकारक

• उत्तमैः: excellent
• उत्तमैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying योगिभिः etc.)

Speaker

Gautama (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāñcī (Kāñcīpurī)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: A fortunate interlocutor (mahābhāga)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A grand procession enters a sacred city: the narrator with disciples, surrounded by ṛṣis with matted locks, radiant devas, Śiva’s gaṇas, and serene yogins—Kāñcī’s temple towers rising in the background.

Characters & Entities

• Kāñcī
• Ṛṣis
• Vibudhas (gods)
• Gaṇas
• Yogins

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Holy places are best approached in satsanga—company of sages and disciplined seekers—making pilgrimage a communal dharmic practice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāñcī (Kanchipuram) is highlighted as foremost among sacred cities mentioned in this travel account.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is prescribed; the emphasis is on traveling/visiting sacred cities in the company of spiritually advanced beings.