Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

वामदेव उवाच । पुरा मंदरशैलेंद्रे नानाधातुविचित्रिते । नानासत्वसमाकीर्णे नानाद्रुमलताकुले

Transliteration

vāmadeva uvāca | purā maṃdaraśaileṃdre nānādhātuvicitrite | nānāsatvasamākīrṇe nānādrumalatākule

Translation

വാമദേവൻ പറഞ്ഞു—പുരാതനകാലത്ത് മന്ദര പർവ്വതരാജത്തിൽ, നാനാവിധ ധാതുക്കളാൽ വിചിത്രമായി അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടതും, വിവിധ ജീവികളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞതും, അനേകം വൃക്ഷലതകളാൽ സമാകീർണ്ണമായതുമായ സ്ഥലത്ത്।

Word by Word

• वामदेवः: Vāmadeva
• वामदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: formerly)

• मन्दरशैलेंद्रे: on Mandara, the king of mountains
• मन्दरशैलेंद्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर + शैलेंद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: मन्दरः शैलेंद्रः = Mandara, the lord of mountains; अधिकरण

• नाना: various
• नाना: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: विविधार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable: various) used adjectivally

• धातु: minerals
• धातु: None
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive in compound relation) / or stem member in compound; here as first member of compound

• विचित्रिते: adorned / variegated
• विचित्रिते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्रित (कृदन्त; √चित्र्/√चित्रय् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of शैलेंद्रे): ‘adorned/variegated’

• नाना: various
• नाना: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: विविधार्थक-अव्यय (various) used adjectivally

• सत्त्व: creatures / beings
• सत्त्व: None
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive in compound relation) / stem member in compound

• समाकीर्णे: crowded / filled
• समाकीर्णे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाकीर्ण (कृदन्त; √कीर्/√कॄ धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of शैलेंद्रे): ‘filled with’

• नाना: various
• नाना: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: विविधार्थक-अव्यय (various) used adjectivally

• द्रुम: trees
• द्रुम: None
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive in compound relation) / stem member in compound

• लता: creepers
• लता: None
• Type: Noun
• Root: लता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive in compound relation) / stem member in compound

• आकुले: abounding / full
• आकुले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of शैलेंद्रे): ‘teeming with/abounding in’

Speaker

Vāmadeva

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mandara (Mandarācala)

Type: peak

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sūta’s audience (best of sages) via reported speech

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Vāmadeva begins a flashback: the majestic Mandara rises, streaked with colorful minerals; dense forests of varied trees and creepers; many creatures roam; the atmosphere is primeval and sacred.

Characters & Entities

• Vāmadeva
• Mandara

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Holy narratives are grounded in sacred landscapes; nature itself becomes the stage for divine revelation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Mount Mandara (Mandara-śaila) is highlighted as the sacred setting for the ensuing episode.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; this verse establishes the sacred locale and atmosphere.