Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

परितः स्थंडिलं दिक्षु सर्वरत्नमयं तु ते । तत्र हृष्टाश्चाप्सरसो ननृतुर्दशधा शुभाः

Transliteration

paritaḥ sthaṃḍilaṃ dikṣu sarvaratnamayaṃ tu te | tatra hṛṣṭāścāpsaraso nanṛturdaśadhā śubhāḥ

Translation

ചുറ്റുമുള്ള എല്ലാ ദിക്കുകളിലും അവർ സർവ്വരത്നങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിച്ച പവിത്രമായ സ്ഥണ്ഡിലം ഒരുക്കി. അവിടെ ശുഭമായ അപ്സരസ്സുകൾ ഹർഷത്തോടെ ദശധാ നൃത്തം ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• परितः: all around
• परितः: Kriya-vishesana (Spatial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परितः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• स्थंडिलम्: altar-ground/level ground
• स्थंडिलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थण्डिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• सर्वरत्नमयम्: made of all gems
• सर्वरत्नमयम्: Karma-vishesana (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + रत्न + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); ‘रत्नैः मयम्’ (made of gems) with सर्व- (all)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोध-अव्यय (particle)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• हृष्टाः: delighted
• हृष्टाः: Karta-vishesana (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष् (धातु) → हृष्ट (कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) (agreeing with अप्सरसः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अप्सरसः: Apsarases
• अप्सरसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• ननृतुः: danced
• ननृतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• दशधा: in ten ways
• दशधा: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दशधा (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्या-प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: in ten ways)

• शुभाः: auspicious/beautiful
• शुभाः: Karta-vishesana (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); विशेषण (of अप्सरसः)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ratna-sthāṇḍila around Jaya-stambha (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A jewel-adorned sacred platform is formed in all directions around the pillar; ten groups of Apsarases dance joyfully, filling the space with rhythmic symmetry.

Characters & Entities

• Apsarases
• Sthaṇḍila (ritual ground)
• Ratna (jewels)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When a place is consecrated, it becomes a festive sacred landscape—beauty and devotion together mark the descent of divine auspiciousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The consecrated precinct around the victory-pillar (future Stambheśvara area) is described as a jewel-like sacred ground.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Preparation of a sthaṇḍila (ritual platform/level ground) as part of the installation festivities.