Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

फलैर्विशालैराकीर्णं स्कंधकांडादिशोभितम् । फलौघाढ्यो जटायुक्तो न्यग्रो धो विटपो महान्

Transliteration

phalairviśālairākīrṇaṃ skaṃdhakāṃḍādiśobhitam | phalaughāḍhyo jaṭāyukto nyagro dho viṭapo mahān

Translation

അത് വലുതായ ഫലങ്ങളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞതും, തണ്ട്-ശാഖാദികളാൽ ശോഭിച്ചതും, ഫലഗുച്ചങ്ങളാൽ സമൃദ്ധവും, തൂങ്ങുന്ന ജടകളോടുകൂടിയ മഹത്തായ ന്യഗ്രോധ (വട) വൃക്ഷവുമായിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• फलैः: with fruits
• फलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• विशालैः: large, huge
• विशालैः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agreeing with फलैः

• आकीर्णम्: filled, covered
• आकीर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + √कॄ (धातु) + क्त
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; PPP ‘filled, covered’

• स्कन्धकाण्डादि-शोभितम्: adorned with trunk, branches, etc.
• स्कन्धकाण्डादि-शोभितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्कन्ध + काण्ड + आदि + शोभित (√शुभ्/√शोभ् + क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: स्कन्ध-काण्ड-आदि-भिः शोभितम् (adorned by trunk, branches, etc.)

• फलौघाढ्यः: rich with masses of fruits
• फलौघाढ्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फल + ओघ + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: फलानाम् ओघः (mass of fruits) तेन आढ्यः (rich)

• जटायुक्तः: having matted locks (or aerial roots)
• जटायुक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा + युक्त (√युज् + क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘endowed with matted locks/roots’

• न्यग्रोधः: banyan tree (nyagrodha)
• न्यग्रोधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यग्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विटपः: tree, branchy tree
• विटपः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विटप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to न्यग्रोधः

• महान्: great
• महान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; agreeing with न्यग्रोधः/विटपः

Speaker

Śiva

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vata/Nyagrodha-sthala (archetype)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A colossal banyan with thick trunk, spreading canopy, aerial roots hanging like garlands, heavy clusters of large fruits; the scene conveys sheltering grandeur.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Nyagrodha (banyan tree)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The sacred tree symbolizes the abundance and sustaining power of the divine order that supports beings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No explicit tirtha is named; the verse describes the divine-created Nyagrodha central to the unfolding narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a descriptive passage.