Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

झल्लरी वाद्यकुशला झलज्झालजलावृता । झिंटीशवंद्या झांकारकारिणी झर्झरावती

Transliteration

jhallarī vādyakuśalā jhalajjhālajalāvṛtā | jhiṃṭīśavaṃdyā jhāṃkārakāriṇī jharjharāvatī

Translation

وہ جھلّری جھانج کی مانند ہے، مقدس نغمہ میں ماہر؛ چمکتی، چھلکتی لہروں کے پانی سے ڈھکی ہوئی۔ جانداروں کے گروہ اسے سجدہ کرتے ہیں؛ وہ گونجتی ہوئی جھَنکار پیدا کرتی ہے اور آبشاروں کی طرح تیز و رواں بہتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• झल्लरी: (she who is) the jhallarī (a bell/cymbal)
• झल्लरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: झल्लरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाद्यकुशला: skilled in musical instruments
• वाद्यकुशला: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वाद्येषु कुशला)

• झलज्झालजलावृता: covered with splashing/clangorous water
• झलज्झालजलावृता: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: झलज्झाल (प्रातिपदिक; ध्वन्यनुकरण) + जल (प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त; √वृ धातु, उपसर्ग आ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तृतीया/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषसदृशः (झलज्झाल-जलैः/जलेन आवृता)

• झिंटीशवंद्या: worthy of worship by Jhiṃṭīśa
• झिंटीशवंद्या: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: झिंटीश (प्रातिपदिक) + वन्द्य (कृदन्त; √वन्द् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (झिंटीशेन वन्द्या)

• झांकारकारिणी: producer of the jhāṃkāra sound (jingling)
• झांकारकारिणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: झांकार (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ धातु-णिनि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (झांकारं करोति इति)

• झर्झरावती: possessing a jharjharā (rattling instrument/sound)
• झर्झरावती: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: झर्झरा (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रत्यय; वतुप्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (झर्झरायुक्ता)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā (Nāda-rūpā in Kāśī)

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrim-audience within Kāśī-māhātmya frame

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gaṅgā as a living orchestra: cymbal-like shimmer on the surface, splashes like rhythmic beats; celestial and human beings offer salutations as the river hums and rings.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Kāśī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Gaṅgā’s very movement and sound are sacred—her presence is portrayed as mantra-like and spiritually uplifting.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Gaṅgā in Kāśī, envisioned as a sonic and visual tīrtha along the ghāṭas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; the verse supports devotional recitation (stuti/japa) by portraying Gaṅgā as sacred resonance.