Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 87

Devanagari script

विचित्ररचनैर्माल्यैः पाटलाचंपकोद्भवैः । कुंकुमागुरुकर्पूरमिश्रितैः शोणचंदनैः

Transliteration

vicitraracanairmālyaiḥ pāṭalācaṃpakodbhavaiḥ | kuṃkumāgurukarpūramiśritaiḥ śoṇacaṃdanaiḥ

Translation

以种种巧妙编制的花鬘，取自波吒罗与瞻波迦之花，又以掺和藏红花、沉香与樟脑的赤檀香—

Word by Word

• विचित्ररचनैः: with variously-made
• विचित्ररचनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र + रचना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय (विचित्रा रचना) — विशेषण (qualifying माल्यैः)

• माल्यैः: with garlands
• माल्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पाटलाचम्पकोद्भवैः: made from pāṭalā and campaka (flowers)
• पाटलाचम्पकोद्भवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाटला + चम्पक + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); पाटला-चम्पक-उद्भव = ‘arising from pāṭalā and campaka’ (समाहार/तत्पुरुष) — विशेषण (qualifying माल्यैः)

• कुङ्कुमागुरुकर्पूरमिश्रितैः: mixed with saffron, aloe-wood, and camphor
• कुङ्कुमागुरुकर्पूरमिश्रितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुङ्कुम + अगुरु + कर्पूर + मिश्रित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘मिश्रित’; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); समास: (कुङ्कुम-अगुरु-कर्पूर)-मिश्रित — विशेषण (qualifying शोणचन्दनैः/द्रव्यैः)

• शोणचन्दनैः: with red sandalwood
• शोणचन्दनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोण + चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय (शोणं चन्दनम्)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vimalāditya/Bradhna (Sūrya) in Kāśī

Type: temple

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Muni (unnamed sage)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Elaborate garlands of pāṭalā and campaka, and red sandal paste blended with saffron, agaru, and camphor are prepared and offered—an altar scene dense with scent and intricate floral craftsmanship.

Characters & Entities

• Skanda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred worship integrates fragrance, purity, and artistry—outer refinement supporting inner reverence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

These offerings belong to the Vimalāditya-centered narrative situated in Kāśī (Vārāṇasī).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offering ornate garlands (pāṭalā, campaka) and applying fragrant substances (red sandalwood with saffron, agaru, camphor) in pūjā.