Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 57

Devanagari script

नीलश्च नीलीनिलयो मन्दरो मन्दलोचनः । सर्पालयः समलयो रायं नावैति रैवतः

Transliteration

nīlaśca nīlīnilayo mandaro mandalocanaḥ | sarpālayaḥ samalayo rāyaṃ nāvaiti raivataḥ

Translation

நீலம் நீலியின் வாசஸ்தலம் மட்டுமே; மந்தரம் மென்மையான அழகால் புகழ்பெற்றது; ரைவதம் பாம்புகளின் உறைவிடமும் கலப்பிடமும்—ஆயினும் எதுவும் உண்மையான அரசோச்சத்தை அடைவதில்லை.

Word by Word

• नीलः: Nīla (name)
• नीलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नीलीनिलयः: the abode of Nīlī
• नीलीनिलयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीली-निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नील्याः निलयः)

• मन्दरः: Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• मन्दलोचनः: having gentle/soft eyes
• मन्दलोचनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द-लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (मन्दं लोचनं यस्य/मन्द-लोचनः)

• सर्पालयः: abode of serpents
• सर्पालयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प-आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्पाणाम् आलयः)

• समलयः: Samalaya (name; lit. 'equal dissolution/abode')
• समलयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम-लय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (समः लयः)

• रायम्: Rāya (name)
• रायम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• अवैति: knows; understands
• अवैति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-इ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• रैवतः: Raivata (name)
• रैवतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

Speaker

Vindhya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Nīla / Mandara / Raivata (as exempla)

Type: peak

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nārada (episode)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Three mountains presented like portraits: Nīla with a feminine presence (Nīlī) in blue hues; Mandara with soft, lotus-eyed beauty; Raivata with coiling serpents and misty confluence—yet a crown-like symbol above them remains unclaimed.

Characters & Entities

• Nīla
• Nīlī
• Mandara
• Raivata
• Nāgas (serpents)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Distinctive features and fame do not automatically confer the highest status; true greatness is measured by deeper dharmic qualities.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha; it is a list of renowned mountains used for contrast and instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.