Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 6
Devanagari script
हर्म्येषु नीलमणिभिर्निर्मितेष्वत्रनिर्भयम् । स्वनीलिमानमाधाय तमोहःस्वपि तिष्ठति
Transliteration
harmyeṣu nīlamaṇibhirnirmiteṣvatranirbhayam | svanīlimānamādhāya tamohaḥsvapi tiṣṭhati
Translation
此处楼阁以青宝石建成；连黑暗也无所畏惧地停驻其间，染上自身的深蓝之色——纵在白昼亦然。
Word by Word
harmyeṣuin palaces
harmyeṣu:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootharmya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन
nīla-maṇibhiḥwith blue gems
nīla-maṇibhiḥ:
Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootnīla (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (नीलाश्च ते मणयः)
nirmiteṣu(being) constructed
nirmiteṣu:
Adhikarana (Qualifier/अधिकरणविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootnir-√mā (धातु)
Formकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; 'निर्मित'
atrahere
atra:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatra (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक-अव्यय (here)
nirbhayamfearlessly
nirbhayam:
Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
TypeAdjective
Rootnirbhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially: 'fearlessly')
sva-nīlimānamits own blueness
sva-nīlimānam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsva (प्रातिपदिक) + nīlimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य नीलिमानम्)
ādhāyahaving assumed
ādhāya:
Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootā-√dhā (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): 'having placed/assuming'
tamaḥdarkness
tamaḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottamas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
ahaḥsuin the daytime
ahaḥsu:
Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootahas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन
apieven
api:
Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle: even)
tiṣṭhatistands/remains
tiṣṭhati:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√sthā (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
Speaker
Gaṇas (context continues)
Tirtha Mahatmya
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (implied)
Type: kshetra
Visual Art Cues
Scene: Gemstone mansions in Kāśī built of deep blue sapphires; even in daylight, a cool indigo ‘shade’ rests calmly on the walls, as if darkness has taken the stones’ color and lost its menace.
Characters & Entities
N
Nīlamaṇi (sapphire)T
Tamas (darkness)FAQs
The place is depicted as extraordinary and divinely fashioned, inspiring faith through awe.
Sahasrākṣa-purī (within the Kāśī Khaṇḍa narrative) is the city being praised.
None; the verse focuses on the city’s gem-like architecture and wonder.