Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

विलेपनानि मुख्यानि सुरभीणि तथा पुरः । पुष्पाणि च विचित्राणि ह्यन्याः सूक्ष्मांबराणि च

Transliteration

vilepanāni mukhyāni surabhīṇi tathā puraḥ | puṣpāṇi ca vicitrāṇi hyanyāḥ sūkṣmāṃbarāṇi ca

Translation

Devant, on disposa des onguents choisis, suaves et parfumés; ainsi que des fleurs bigarrées de maintes sortes, et d’autres vêtements fins et légers.

Word by Word

• विलेपनानि: ointments, unguents
• विलेपनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन

• मुख्यानि: chief, principal
• मुख्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सुरभीणि: fragrant
• सुरभीणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (in like manner/also)

• पुरः: in front, beforehand
• पुरः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place: in front)

• पुष्पाणि: flowers
• पुष्पाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विचित्राणि: variegated, diverse
• विचित्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अन्याः: others (women)
• अन्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (अन्या स्त्रियः)

• सूक्ष्म-अम्बराणि: fine garments
• सूक्ष्म-अम्बराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सूक्ष्मं अम्बरम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Unspecified narrator (contextual narration within Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A forecourt or inner hall displays fragrant unguents, heaps of multicolored flowers, and stacks of delicate garments arranged ceremonially before an awaited encounter.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sensory pleasures—perfumes, flowers, and fine garments—are portrayed as external temptations that set the stage for later instruction on restraint and detachment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This verse is part of a Tīrthamāhātmya chapter, but no specific tīrtha is named within this standalone line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is prescribed here; the verse describes offerings/adornments in a narrative context.