Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

वामदेव उवाच । पुरा मंदरशैलेंद्रे नानाधातुविचित्रिते । नानासत्वसमाकीर्णे नानाद्रुमलताकुले

Transliteration

vāmadeva uvāca | purā maṃdaraśaileṃdre nānādhātuvicitrite | nānāsatvasamākīrṇe nānādrumalatākule

Translation

Vāmadeva nói: Thuở xưa, trên núi Mandara—vua của các ngọn núi—rực rỡ bởi muôn loại khoáng thạch, đông đầy các loài hữu tình, và um tùm cây cối cùng dây leo muôn dạng,

Word by Word

• वामदेवः: Vāmadeva
• वामदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: formerly)

• मन्दरशैलेंद्रे: on Mandara, the king of mountains
• मन्दरशैलेंद्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर + शैलेंद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: मन्दरः शैलेंद्रः = Mandara, the lord of mountains; अधिकरण

• नाना: various
• नाना: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: विविधार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable: various) used adjectivally

• धातु: minerals
• धातु: None
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive in compound relation) / or stem member in compound; here as first member of compound

• विचित्रिते: adorned / variegated
• विचित्रिते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्रित (कृदन्त; √चित्र्/√चित्रय् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of शैलेंद्रे): ‘adorned/variegated’

• नाना: various
• नाना: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: विविधार्थक-अव्यय (various) used adjectivally

• सत्त्व: creatures / beings
• सत्त्व: None
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive in compound relation) / stem member in compound

• समाकीर्णे: crowded / filled
• समाकीर्णे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाकीर्ण (कृदन्त; √कीर्/√कॄ धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of शैलेंद्रे): ‘filled with’

• नाना: various
• नाना: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: विविधार्थक-अव्यय (various) used adjectivally

• द्रुम: trees
• द्रुम: None
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive in compound relation) / stem member in compound

• लता: creepers
• लता: None
• Type: Noun
• Root: लता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive in compound relation) / stem member in compound

• आकुले: abounding / full
• आकुले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of शैलेंद्रे): ‘teeming with/abounding in’

Speaker

Vāmadeva

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mandara (Mandarācala)

Type: peak

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sūta’s audience (best of sages) via reported speech

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Vāmadeva begins a flashback: the majestic Mandara rises, streaked with colorful minerals; dense forests of varied trees and creepers; many creatures roam; the atmosphere is primeval and sacred.

Characters & Entities

• Vāmadeva
• Mandara

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Holy narratives are grounded in sacred landscapes; nature itself becomes the stage for divine revelation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Mount Mandara (Mandara-śaila) is highlighted as the sacred setting for the ensuing episode.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; this verse establishes the sacred locale and atmosphere.