Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

रत्नैरसंख्यैर्बहुभिर्दुकूलैर्माल्यैर्विचित्रैर्लसदिष्टगंधैः । अपूपुजन्देवगणा महेशं तदा मुदाते च महोरग्रेंद्राः

Transliteration

ratnairasaṃkhyairbahubhirdukūlairmālyairvicitrairlasadiṣṭagaṃdhaiḥ | apūpujandevagaṇā maheśaṃ tadā mudāte ca mahoragreṃdrāḥ

Translation

അസംഖ്യ രത്നങ്ങളാലും, ധാരാളം ഉത്തമ ദൂകൂലവസ്ത്രങ്ങളാലും, മനോഹരവും വൈവിധ്യമാർന്നതുമായ മധുരസുഗന്ധമുള്ള മാലകളാലും ദേവഗണങ്ങൾ അന്ന് മഹേശനെ പൂജിച്ചു; മഹോരഗേന്ദ്രന്മാരായ നാഗരാജാക്കളും ആനന്ദിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• रत्नैः: with jewels
• रत्नैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural (by/with jewels)

• असंख्यैः: countless
• असंख्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; रत्नैः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• बहुभिः: many
• बहुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; रत्नैः/दुकूलैः/माल्यैः इत्यादीनां विशेषणम्

• दुकूलैः: with fine garments
• दुकूलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural (with garments/cloths)

• माल्यैः: with garlands
• माल्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural (with garlands)

• विचित्रैः: variegated
• विचित्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; माल्यैः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• लसत्: shining
• लसत्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचन-समासाङ्गत्वेन (लसद्-इष्ट-गन्धैः)

• इष्टगन्धैः: with pleasing fragrances
• इष्टगन्धैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; तत्पुरुषः (इष्टः गन्धः यस्य/येषां) ‘with pleasing fragrances’

• अपूपुजन्: worshipped
• अपूपुजन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद — 3rd pl imperfect ‘they worshipped’

• देवगणाः: the hosts of gods
• देवगणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Nominative plural; कर्तृपद; तत्पुरुषः ‘group of gods’

• महेशम्: Mahesha (Śiva)
• महेशम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular (object)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Instrumental singular (with joy)

• आते: approached
• आते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग) + इ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, आत्मनेपद — 3rd dual present ‘they go/approach’ (context: ‘they approached’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महोरा-ग्रेन्द्राः: the chiefs of the Mahoragas
• महोरा-ग्रेन्द्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोरा (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Nominative plural; कर्तृपद; तत्पुरुषः (महोरा-नाम्नां ग्रेन्द्राः) ‘chiefs among the Mahoragas’

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant assembly of devas offering heaps of gems, fine silks, and fragrant garlands to Maheśa; in the background, majestic nāga-kings rejoice, suggesting subterranean realms also celebrating.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Maheśa)
• Devas
• Nāga-kings (Mahoragendras)
• Kāśī
• Muktimaṇḍapa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True celebration in a tīrtha culminates in worship—offerings and fragrance symbolize devotion, purity, and honoring the divine presence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī’s sacred assembly at the Muktimaṇḍapa, depicted as attracting devas and nāgas alike.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pūjā through offerings—gems, garments, garlands, and fragrances—are explicitly described as forms of worship.