Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

क्वचिच्छिखंडिनस्तत्र कृत्रिमाः सुमनोहराः । तथा नागाः कृत्रिमाश्च हयाश्चैव तथा मृगाः

Transliteration

kvacicchikhaṃḍinastatra kṛtrimāḥ sumanoharāḥ | tathā nāgāḥ kṛtrimāśca hayāścaiva tathā mṛgāḥ

Translation

En certains lieux se trouvaient des paons artificiels, exquisément charmants; de même des serpents nāga façonnés, ainsi que des chevaux, et pareillement des cerfs.

Word by Word

• क्वचित्: somewhere
• क्वचित्: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय — ‘somewhere’

• शिखण्डिनः: peacocks
• शिखण्डिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative plural (peacocks/crested ones)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — ‘there’

• कृत्रिमाः: artificial
• कृत्रिमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्रिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — adjective qualifying plural nouns

• सुमनोहराः: very beautiful
• सुमनोहराः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘very charming’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय — ‘likewise/so’

• नागाः: elephants/serpents (nāgas)
• नागाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative plural

• कृत्रिमाः: artificial
• कृत्रिमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्रिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — adjective

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय — ‘and’

• हयाः: horses
• हयाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय — ‘and’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय — ‘indeed’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — ‘likewise’

• मृगाः: deer/animals
• मृगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative plural

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) speaking to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra (Kedārakṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Within a sacred enclosure appear exquisitely made peacocks, serpents, horses, and deer—so lifelike that they seem ready to move; pilgrims gaze in astonishment.

Characters & Entities

• Nāga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred spaces can manifest divine artistry that elevates the mind from the mundane toward contemplation of the Lord’s power.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra region (Kedārakhaṇḍa), a Śaiva pilgrimage landscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No; this verse highlights adbhuta (marvel) through crafted forms.