Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

श्लक्ष्णं कोटिशलाकं च विश्वकर्मविनिर्मितम् । पांडुरं रत्नदंडं च स्थूलमुक्तावलंबितम्

Transliteration

ślakṣṇaṃ koṭiśalākaṃ ca viśvakarmavinirmitam | pāṃḍuraṃ ratnadaṃḍaṃ ca sthūlamuktāvalaṃbitam

Translation

ആ ഛത്രം മൃദുവും, കോടിക്കണക്കിന് ശലാകകളോടുകൂടിയതും, വിശ്വകർമ്മൻ നിർമ്മിച്ചതുമായിരുന്നു; വെളുത്തുനില്ക്കുന്ന, രത്നദണ്ഡമുള്ള, വലിയ മുത്തുകളുടെ തൂക്കാലങ്കാരങ്ങളാൽ ശോഭിച്ചതുമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• श्लक्ष्णम्: smooth, fine
• श्लक्ष्णम्: Visheshaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Acc./Nom. 2nd/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying cchatram understood)

• कोटि: crore; ten million
• कोटि: Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; पूर्वपद (as numeral-like qualifier)

• शलाकम्: rod, stick, spoke
• शलाकम्: Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शलाका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Acc./Nom.), एकवचन; समासान्त-रूपेण (in compound)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• विश्वकर्म: Viśvakarman
• विश्वकर्म: Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपद (agent name)

• विनिर्मितम्: constructed
• विनिर्मितम्: Kriya (Predicate participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-मा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; 'made/constructed'

• पाण्डुरम्: pale-white
• पाण्डुरम्: Visheshaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रत्न: jewel
• रत्न: Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पूर्वपद (in compound)

• दण्डम्: staff, rod
• दण्डम्: Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासान्त-रूपेण (in compound)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• स्थूल: large, thick
• स्थूल: Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पूर्वपद (in compound)

• मुक्ता: pearl
• मुक्ता: Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; पूर्वपद (in compound)

• अवलम्बितम्: hung with, suspended
• अवलम्बितम्: Kriya (Predicate participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-लम्ब् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'hung/suspended'

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Naimiṣāraṇya ṛṣis (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close-up focus on the ceremonial umbrella: countless fine ribs, perfectly smooth surface, a pale-white sheen, jeweled handle, and strings of large pearls swaying as attendants hold it above Hari.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvakarman

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotional beauty and excellence in offerings symbolize inner reverence—making worship a dignified celebration of the divine.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative context is Kāśī, whose māhātmya includes richly described divine ceremonies.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Not a rule, but a model of upacāra: presenting finely made royal insignia (like a cchatra) adorned with jewels and pearls.