Shloka 23

Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda

Kārttikeya

Devanagari script

करवीरवनै: फुल्लै: सहस्रावर्तसंवृतै: । संतानकवनै: फुल्लैर्वक्षैश्ष समलंकृता:

Transliteration

karavīravanaiḥ phullaiḥ sahasrāvartasaṃvṛtaiḥ | saṃtānakavanaiḥ phullair vṛkṣaiś ca samalaṅkṛtāḥ ||

Translation

毗耶娑说：彼界河流众多。两岸有盛放的夹竹桃林（karavīra），又有繁茂的娑ṃtānaka林——天界如意树的一种——并诸般树木，共增其胜景。诸树与林木根际，千重回旋的水涡环绕，更添此境超尘奇丽之光。

Word by Word

• करवीरवनैः: by/with oleander-groves
• करवीरवनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: करवीर-वन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• फुल्लैः: blooming, in full flower
• फुल्लैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फुल्ल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सहस्रावर्तसंवृतैः: encircled by a thousand whirlpools
• सहस्रावर्तसंवृतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र-आवर्त-संवृत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• संतानकवनैः: by/with groves of santānaka trees
• संतानकवनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संतानक-वन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• फुल्लैः: blooming
• फुल्लैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फुल्ल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• वृक्षैः: by/with trees
• वृक्षैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• समलंकृता: adorned, well-decorated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√अलंकृ (अलंकृ)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• karavīra (oleander) groves
• saṃtānaka (celestial tree) groves
• rivers
• whirlpools/eddies (āvarta)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contributes to a dharma-oriented portrayal of the fruits of merit: a refined, orderly, and beautiful otherworldly landscape. Such imagery reinforces the ethical idea that righteous conduct and sacred merit culminate in elevated realms characterized by abundance, purity, and delight.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa is describing a wondrous realm with many rivers whose banks are lined with blossoming karavīra and saṃtānaka groves and other trees. The mention of countless eddies around the roots heightens the supernatural atmosphere and vividness of the setting.