Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

झल्लरी वाद्यकुशला झलज्झालजलावृता । झिंटीशवंद्या झांकारकारिणी झर्झरावती

Transliteration

jhallarī vādyakuśalā jhalajjhālajalāvṛtā | jhiṃṭīśavaṃdyā jhāṃkārakāriṇī jharjharāvatī

Translation

അവൾ ഝല്ലരീ വാദ്യംപോലെ മധുരനാദത്തിൽ നിപുണ; മിനുങ്ങി ചലചലിക്കുന്ന ജലത്തിൽ ആവൃത. ഭൂതഗണങ്ങൾ വന്ദിക്കുന്നവൾ, ഝങ്കാരം ഉയർത്തുന്നവൾ, ഝരഝര വേഗത്തിൽ ഒഴുകുന്നവൾ.

Word by Word

• झल्लरी: (she who is) the jhallarī (a bell/cymbal)
• झल्लरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: झल्लरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाद्यकुशला: skilled in musical instruments
• वाद्यकुशला: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वाद्येषु कुशला)

• झलज्झालजलावृता: covered with splashing/clangorous water
• झलज्झालजलावृता: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: झलज्झाल (प्रातिपदिक; ध्वन्यनुकरण) + जल (प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त; √वृ धातु, उपसर्ग आ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तृतीया/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषसदृशः (झलज्झाल-जलैः/जलेन आवृता)

• झिंटीशवंद्या: worthy of worship by Jhiṃṭīśa
• झिंटीशवंद्या: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: झिंटीश (प्रातिपदिक) + वन्द्य (कृदन्त; √वन्द् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (झिंटीशेन वन्द्या)

• झांकारकारिणी: producer of the jhāṃkāra sound (jingling)
• झांकारकारिणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: झांकार (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ धातु-णिनि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (झांकारं करोति इति)

• झर्झरावती: possessing a jharjharā (rattling instrument/sound)
• झर्झरावती: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: झर्झरा (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रत्यय; वतुप्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (झर्झरायुक्ता)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā (Nāda-rūpā in Kāśī)

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrim-audience within Kāśī-māhātmya frame

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gaṅgā as a living orchestra: cymbal-like shimmer on the surface, splashes like rhythmic beats; celestial and human beings offer salutations as the river hums and rings.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Kāśī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Gaṅgā’s very movement and sound are sacred—her presence is portrayed as mantra-like and spiritually uplifting.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Gaṅgā in Kāśī, envisioned as a sonic and visual tīrtha along the ghāṭas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; the verse supports devotional recitation (stuti/japa) by portraying Gaṅgā as sacred resonance.