Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

निम्बजंवीरकदलीमातुलिंगमहाफलैः । लसच्चंदनगंधाढ्यैर्नागरैरुपशोभिता

Transliteration

nimbajaṃvīrakadalīmātuliṃgamahāphalaiḥ | lasaccaṃdanagaṃdhāḍhyairnāgarairupaśobhitā

Translation

ആ പുരി വേപ്പ്, ഞാവൽ, വാഴ, മാതുലിംഗം (വലിയ നാരങ്ങ) എന്നിവയും മഹാഫലവൃക്ഷങ്ങളും കൊണ്ടു ശോഭിതമാണ്; മിനുങ്ങുന്ന ചന്ദനസൗരഭ്യത്തിൽ സമൃദ്ധമായ നാഗരവൃക്ഷങ്ങളാലും അതി മനോഹരമാണ്।

Word by Word

• nimba: neem (tree)
• nimba: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nimba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• jaṃvīra: citron/lemon (jambīra)
• jaṃvīra: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṃvīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• kadalī: banana (plant)
• kadalī: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kadalī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• mātuliṅga: mātuliṅga (citron)
• mātuliṅga: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātuliṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगभेद), प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• mahāphalaiḥ: with large fruits
• mahāphalaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-phala (प्रातिपदिक; महा + फल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (neuter, instrumental, plural)

• lasat: shining
• lasat: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √las (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle), प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• candana: sandalwood
• candana: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• gandha: fragrance
• gandha: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• āḍhyaiḥ: rich/abundant (in)
• āḍhyaiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (adjective, masculine, instrumental, plural); समासः: lasat-candana-gandha-āḍhya (rich in shining sandal fragrance)

• nāgaraiḥ: with nāgara trees (citrus/ginger-like aromatic, context: trees)
• nāgaraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (masculine, instrumental, plural)

• upaśobhitā: beautified
• upaśobhitā: Visheshya (Predicate adjective/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√śubh (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (feminine, nominative, singular)

Speaker

Brahmā (deduced for Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa narrative context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ayodhyā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A fragrant orchard scene: neem and jamun trees with deep green canopy; banana leaves shimmering; citron fruits glowing; large fruit trees in the background; a cool, pale-golden ‘sandalwood-scented’ breeze visualized as flowing ribbons of air through the grove.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• nimba
• mātuliṅga
• candana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The tīrtha’s sanctity is mirrored in health, abundance, and purity—fragrant woods and fruitful trees support worship and well-being.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ayodhyā, depicted as rich in medicinal and fruitful trees and sandalwood-like fragrance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; sandalwood fragrance points to an implied culture of anointing and offerings in deity worship.