Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वाप्सरःसंकीर्णे विमाने सूर्यसन्निभे । वीज्यमानो वरस्त्रीभिर्दैवतैः सह मोदते

Transliteration

gandharvāpsaraḥsaṃkīrṇe vimāne sūryasannibhe | vījyamāno varastrībhirdaivataiḥ saha modate

Translation

சூரியனைப் போல ஒளிவிடும், கந்தர்வர்-அப்சரஸ்கள் நிறைந்த விமானத்தில், உயர்ந்த பெண்கள் விசிறி வீசச் சேவிக்க, அவன் தேவர்களுடன் கூடி மகிழ்கிறான்.

Word by Word

• गन्धर्व-अप्सरः-संकीर्णे: in (a) chariot filled with Gandharvas and Apsarases
• गन्धर्व-अप्सरः-संकीर्णे: Adhikarana (Location qualifier/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + संकीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (गन्धर्वैः अप्सरभिः च संकीर्णम्); agreeing with ‘विमाने’

• विमाने: in the aerial chariot
• विमाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• सूर्य-सन्निभे: (in it) resembling the sun
• सूर्य-सन्निभे: Adhikarana (Location qualifier/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सूर्यस्य सन्निभम्); agreeing with ‘विमाने’

• वीज्यमानः: being fanned
• वीज्यमानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीज् (धातु)
• Form: वीज्-धातोः शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘being fanned’

• वर-स्त्रीभिः: by excellent women
• वर-स्त्रीभिः: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (वराः स्त्रियः); Instrumental plural

• दैवतैः: with the gods/divinities
• दैवतैः: Sahakari (Associate/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (Association/सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहकारार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable: with)

• मोदते: rejoices
• मोदते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘rejoices’

Speaker

Sūta (deduced, Revā Khaṇḍa narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant sun-like vimāna in the sky, crowded with gandharvas and apsarases; the meritorious pilgrim seated in splendor, being fanned by noble women; devas nearby in celebration; clouds and light rays emphasize akṣaya enjoyment.

Characters & Entities

• Gandharva
• Apsaras
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Merit gained through tīrtha-based austerity is depicted as leading to exalted heavenly attainments and divine companionship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse continues the phala-śruti tied to the tīrtha described in Adhyāya 29—centered on the Narmadā and the Kāverī–Narmadā confluence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No new prescription here; it elaborates the reward (phala) of the previously mentioned fast at the tīrtha.