Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

दधतीं दक्षिणे हस्ते कमलं सुमनोहरम् । अक्षमालां तथान्यस्मिञ्जिततारक वर्चसम्

Transliteration

dadhatīṃ dakṣiṇe haste kamalaṃ sumanoharam | akṣamālāṃ tathānyasmiñjitatāraka varcasam

Translation

ദേവിയുടെ വലങ്കയ്യിൽ അതിമനോഹരമായ താമര ധരിപ്പിച്ചു; മറ്റൊരു കൈയിൽ നക്ഷത്രപ്രഭയെ പോലും ജയിക്കുന്ന ദീപ്തിയുള്ള അക്ഷമാലയും വെച്ചു।

Word by Word

• दधतीम्: holding
• दधतीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, परस्मैपद-भाव); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; देवीम् विशेषयति

• दक्षिणे: in the right
• दक्षिणे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; हस्ते इत्यस्य विशेषण

• हस्ते: in (her) hand
• हस्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• कमलम्: lotus
• कमलम्: Karma (Object held/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• सुमनोहरम्: very beautiful
• सुमनोहरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अत्यन्तं मनोहरम्)

• अक्षमालाम्: rosary
• अक्षमालाम्: Karma (Object held/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अक्षाणां माला)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यक्रिया (also/likewise)

• अन्यस्मिन्: in another (one)
• अन्यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; 'in another (hand)'

• जिततारकवर्चसम्: having splendor surpassing the stars
• जिततारकवर्चसम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (जि धातु, क्त) + तारक + वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: (तारकस्य वर्चः) जितम् यस्य तत्

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic storyteller; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa in a māhātmya narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Sarasvatī-tīrtha (implied)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close focus on the forming idol’s hands: a graceful lotus in the right hand; a radiant rosary in another, sparkling brighter than stars.

Characters & Entities

• Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)
• Kamala (lotus)
• Akṣamālā (rosary)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Goddess embodies both purity (lotus) and disciplined practice (rosary/japa), guiding seekers toward inner clarity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narration continues a Sarasvatī-centered river-tīrtha worship context in Nāgarakhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicitly highlights japa (rosary practice) as part of Sarasvatī/Bhāratī devotion.