Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

विद्यावंतोऽपि ते सर्वे भोगिनोऽपि सुशोभिताः । हारभूषणभूतास्ते मणिमंतोऽमितप्रभाः

Transliteration

vidyāvaṃto'pi te sarve bhogino'pi suśobhitāḥ | hārabhūṣaṇabhūtāste maṇimaṃto'mitaprabhāḥ

Translation

Tous étaient savants; tous étaient aussi de splendides nāgas—devenus colliers et ornements, sertis de gemmes, d’une splendeur incommensurable.

Word by Word

• विद्यावन्तः: learned/possessing knowledge
• विद्यावन्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्या + वन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; मतुप्/वन्त-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective: 'having learning')

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: 'also/even')

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भोगिनः: serpents (lit. 'possessors of coils/enjoyers')
• भोगिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• सुशोभिताः: well-adorned/beautifully shining
• सुशोभिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु- + √शुभ् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन; उपसर्ग 'सु' (well)

• हारभूषणभूताः: having become (like) necklaces and ornaments
• हारभूषणभूताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हार + भूषण + भूत (प्रातिपदिक; भूत = √भू क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (हारभूषणरूपेण भूताः = having become necklaces/ornaments)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मणिमन्तः: gem-bedecked/possessing jewels
• मणिमन्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि + मन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; मतुप्/मन्त-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive: 'having gems')

• अमितप्रभाः: of immeasurable radiance
• अमितप्रभाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (अमिता प्रभा यस्य)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), by section-level deduction within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra (Kedāranātha)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Purāṇic audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gem-bedecked nāgas, radiant and dignified, arranged like living garlands and necklaces, their bodies studded with jewels emitting immeasurable light.

Characters & Entities

• Nāga (bhogin)
• Śiva (implied as the one adorned)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True splendor is sanctified when offered to the Divine; knowledge and power find their highest purpose in service to Śiva.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra, where Śiva’s presence is extolled through such exalted imagery.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; the verse is devotional description supporting the māhātmya narrative.