Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

नानाक्रीडागृहयुतो गीतवाद्यमनोहरः । गंधर्वनगराकारः संयुक्तः प्रत्यदृस्यत

Transliteration

nānākrīḍāgṛhayuto gītavādyamanoharaḥ | gaṃdharvanagarākāraḥ saṃyuktaḥ pratyadṛsyata

Translation

Orné de nombreux pavillons de plaisance et enchanteur par le chant et la musique, il apparaissait entièrement pourvu, ayant l’aspect d’une cité de Gandharvas.

Word by Word

• नानाक्रीडागृहयुतः: endowed with various play-houses
• नानाक्रीडागृहयुतः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना-क्रीडा-गृह-युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; नाना + क्रीडा + गृह + युक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘युक्त’; समासः तत्पुरुष (बहुविध-क्रिडागृहैः युक्तः)

• गीतवाद्यमनोहरः: delightful with song and music
• गीतवाद्यमनोहरः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गीत-वाद्य-मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक; गीत + वाद्य + मनोहर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (‘charming with songs and instruments’)

• गन्धर्वनगराकारः: shaped like a Gandharva city
• गन्धर्वनगराकारः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्धर्व-नगर-आकार (प्रातिपदिक; गन्धर्व + नगर + आकार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (‘having the form of a Gandharva-city’)

• संयुक्तः: assembled, joined
• संयुक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘joined/assembled’

• प्रत्यदृश्यत: was seen, appeared
• प्रत्यदृश्यत: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (passive-like sense)

Speaker

Nārada (continuing narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The vast chariot appears like a floating city: multiple pavilions, balconies, and pleasure-halls; musicians play lutes and drums; banners and garlands sway as it gleams, enchanting yet ominous.

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• gīta (song)
• vādya (music)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Outer splendor and sensual enchantment can accompany unrighteous power; Purāṇas often contrast such glamour with true dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse uses celestial-city imagery rather than a pilgrimage reference.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.