Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

पताकाभिर्ध्वजस्थाभिर्द्वारकाजयवर्द्धनः । दिव्यपुण्यप्रकाशेन राजते गिरिराडिव

Transliteration

patākābhirdhvajasthābhirdvārakājayavarddhanaḥ | divyapuṇyaprakāśena rājate girirāḍiva

Translation

Parée d’étendards et de mâts de drapeaux, Dvārakā—qui accroît sans cesse la victoire—resplendit d’une clarté divine porteuse de mérite, telle le roi des montagnes.

Word by Word

• पताकाभिः: with banners
• पताकाभिः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ध्वजस्थाभिः: mounted on flagpoles
• ध्वजस्थाभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्वज + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; स्थ = स्थित/स्थ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (ध्वजे स्थाः = placed on flags/poles)

• द्वारका: Dvārakā
• द्वारका: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• जय: victory
• जय: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग

• वर्द्धनः: increaser (of Dvārakā’s victory)
• वर्द्धनः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्द्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्वारकायाः जयस्य वर्द्धनः = increaser of Dvārakā's victory)

• दिव्य: divine
• दिव्य: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुण्य: holy/meritorious
• पुण्य: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रकाशेन: by (its) radiance
• प्रकाशेन: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• राजते: shines
• राजते: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• गिरिराट्: the king of mountains
• गिरिराट्: Upamana (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिराज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रातिपदिक-रूप (गिरिराज् → गिरिराट्)

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-suchaka
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक (comparative particle)

Speaker

Prahlāda (continuing from the chapter’s opening attribution)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Dvārakā gleams like a mountain-king: towering flagpoles, fluttering banners, luminous aura over palaces/temples; the city appears as a radiant fortress of merit and victory.

Characters & Entities

• Dvārakā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A sacred city is not merely beautiful; its splendour signifies spiritual potency and auspicious victory rooted in dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā, portrayed as resplendent and spiritually radiant.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse is descriptive, establishing the city’s auspicious qualities for pilgrims.