Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 90

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मांडकोटिजनकं जटाभिर्भूषितं शिरः । सित द्युतिकलाखंडरत्नभासावभासितम्

Transliteration

brahmāṃḍakoṭijanakaṃ jaṭābhirbhūṣitaṃ śiraḥ | sita dyutikalākhaṃḍaratnabhāsāvabhāsitam

Translation

അവർ ആ ശിരസ്സിനെ കണ്ടു—കോടിക്കണക്കിന് ബ്രഹ്മാണ്ഡങ്ങളുടെ ജനകമായത്, ജടകളാൽ ഭൂഷിതം; ശ്വേത ദ്യുതിയുടെ ഖണ്ഡങ്ങളുപോലുള്ള രത്നപ്രഭയിൽ എല്ലാടവും പ്രകാശിതം।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माण्डकोटिजनकम्: creator of crores of universes
• ब्रह्माण्डकोटिजनकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—ब्रह्माण्डकोटीनां जनकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• जटाभिः: with matted locks
• जटाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• भूषितम्: adorned
• भूषितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूष् (धातु) → भूषित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सित: white
• सित: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (पाठे ‘सित-’ उपपदत्वेन)

• द्युतिकलाखण्डरत्नभासा: by the radiance of a jewel like a fragment of moonlight
• द्युतिकलाखण्डरत्नभासा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्युति (प्रातिपदिक) + कला (प्रातिपदिक) + खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + भासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः—द्युतिकलायाः खण्डवत् रत्नस्य भासा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; उपमान-भावः)

• अवभासितम्: illuminated
• अवभासितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + भास् (धातु) → अवभासित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narrator (contextual deduction)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A close, exalted vision of Śiva’s head: crowned by matted locks, emitting gem-like white radiance; the sense that countless universes arise from this cosmic presence.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (implied)
• Jaṭā (matted locks)
• Brahmāṇḍa (cosmic universes)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The local sacred narrative points to a cosmic truth: the deity worshipped at the tīrtha is the universal source and light.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not named in this verse; it contributes to the chapter’s overall tīrtha glorification through divine vision.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; the verse supports reverential contemplation and praise.