Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

ववुर्गंधवहा वाता ववृषुः कुसुमैर्घनाः । सर्वे मंगलनेपथ्याः सर्वे मंगलभाषिणः

Transliteration

vavurgaṃdhavahā vātā vavṛṣuḥ kusumairghanāḥ | sarve maṃgalanepathyāḥ sarve maṃgalabhāṣiṇaḥ

Translation

芬芳之风吹起，云团降下花雨。众人皆以吉祥装束庄严自饰，众口同宣祝福之言。

Word by Word

• ववुः: blew
• ववुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• गन्धवहाः: carrying fragrance
• गन्धवहाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध + वह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (गन्धं वहन्ति)

• वाताः: winds
• वाताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ववृषुः: rained down
• ववृषुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुसुमैः: with flowers
• कुसुमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• घनाः: clouds
• घनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मङ्गलनेपथ्याः: with auspicious attire
• मङ्गलनेपथ्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मङ्गल + नेपथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (मङ्गलं नेपथ्यं येषाम्/मङ्गल-नेपथ्यः) — ‘having auspicious attire’

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मङ्गलभाषिणः: speaking auspicious words
• मङ्गलभाषिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मङ्गल + भाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (मङ्गलं भाषन्ते)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Perfumed breezes ripple banners; clouds shower marigold, lotus, and jasmine petals; crowds in bright auspicious garments exchange blessings as Śambhu’s festival unfolds.

Characters & Entities

• Winds
• Clouds
• Flowers
• Śiva (context)
• Kāśī (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Auspicious speech, pure adornment, and devotional joy are portrayed as signs of dharma-aligned celebration.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is implied as the sacred stage where nature itself participates in honoring Śiva.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is commanded; the verse supports festival customs—auspicious dress, blessings, and floral offerings.