Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

क्वणत्कंकण पात्राणि कृत्वा करतलं मुदा । मुक्तमुक्ताफलाढ्यानि यक्षकर्दमवंति च

Transliteration

kvaṇatkaṃkaṇa pātrāṇi kṛtvā karatalaṃ mudā | muktamuktāphalāḍhyāni yakṣakardamavaṃti ca

Translation

ആനന്ദത്തോടെ അവർ കരതാളം ചെയ്തു; കങ്കണങ്ങളും പാത്രങ്ങളും മുഴങ്ങി; മുത്തുകളും മുത്തുകുലകളും നിറഞ്ഞ അർഘ്യവും, കൂടെ യക്ഷകർദമം (യക്ഷനിധി)യും അവർ കൊണ്ടുവന്നു।

Word by Word

• क्वणत्-कङ्कण: with sounding bangles
• क्वणत्-कङ्कण: Karman (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्वणत् (कृदन्त; √क्वण् (धातु) + शतृ) + कङ्कण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे ‘पात्राणि’ इति विशेषणार्थं; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (sounding) + नाम; समासः कर्मधारय

• पात्राणि: vessels, bowls
• पात्राणि: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); बहुवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having done/made’

• कर-तलम्: the palm
• कर-तलम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘palm of the hand’

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Hetu / Karaṇa (Means/भाव-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• मुक्त-मुक्ताफल-आढ्यानि: rich with pearls
• मुक्त-मुक्ताफल-आढ्यानि: Karman (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ताफल (प्रातिपदिक; मुक्त + फल) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘rich with pearls and pearl-fruits’ (i.e., pearls)

• यक्ष-कर्दम-वन्: having yakṣa-ointment/mud
• यक्ष-कर्दम-वन्: Karman (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्दम (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्/वन् (तद्धित; possessive)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन (agreeing with ‘पात्राणि’); वत्-प्रत्ययान्त: ‘having yakṣa-mud’ (yakṣa-ointment)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (pūjā setting implied)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Celestial maidens clap palms in joyful añjali; bangles and offering vessels ring; trays overflow with pearls and rare Yakṣa treasures, arranged for worship.

Characters & Entities

• Yakṣas
• pearls (muktā)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Auspicious events are honored through joyful reverence and generous offerings, reflecting devotion expressed in beauty and giving.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśī-khaṇḍa setting is overarching; this verse focuses on celebratory offerings rather than a named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implied pūjā-style offering: bringing precious items (pearls/treasures) with joyful reverence; no step-by-step injunction is stated.