Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

कदंबवादिनो नीपान्दृष्ट्वा कंटकितैरिव । समंततो भ्राजमानं कदंबककदंबकैः

Transliteration

kadaṃbavādino nīpāndṛṣṭvā kaṃṭakitairiva | samaṃtato bhrājamānaṃ kadaṃbakakadaṃbakaiḥ

Translation

നീപ (കടമ്പ) വൃക്ഷങ്ങളെ കണ്ടു രോമാഞ്ചിതമായതുപോലെ, ആ വനം എല്ലാടവും കടമ്പപുഷ്പഗുച്ഛങ്ങളുടെ ഗുച്ഛങ്ങളാൽ ദീപ്തമായി തിളങ്ങി।

Word by Word

• कदम्ब-वादिनः: those that ‘speak’ of kadamba (i.e., kadamba-bees/birds)
• कदम्ब-वादिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कदम्बं वदन्ति/कदम्ब-शब्दं कुर्वन्ति)

• नीपान्: nīpa trees
• नीपान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (√दृश् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• कण्टकितैः: with bristling (as with thorns/horripilation)
• कण्टकितैः: Karana (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कण्टकित (प्रातिपदिक; कण्टक + इत/कित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (कदम्बवादिनाम्)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (Simile marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय

• समन्ततः: all around
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana (Scope/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• भ्राजमानम्: shining
• भ्राजमानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्राज् (√भ्राज् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present middle participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कदम्बक-कदम्बकैः: with clusters of kadamba blossoms (many kadambakas)
• कदम्बक-कदम्बकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदम्बक (प्रातिपदिक) + कदम्बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (कदम्बकाः च कदम्बकाः)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (general)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: All directions glow with kadamba clusters; the trees appear ‘bristling’ as if with goosebumps, their blossoms forming layered pom-pom spheres, creating a radiant floral canopy.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• nīpa/kadamba

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred joy is mirrored in nature—radiance and ‘thrill’ symbolize the kṣetra’s spiritual potency.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī-kṣetra’s kadamba-filled groves.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this shloka.