Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 93

Devanagari script

श्रीखण्डेन सुगन्धेन गुण्ठयेच्च महेश्वरम् । ततः सुगन्धपुष्पैश्च बिल्वपत्रैश्च पूजयेत्

Transliteration

śrīkhaṇḍena sugandhena guṇṭhayecca maheśvaram | tataḥ sugandhapuṣpaiśca bilvapatraiśca pūjayet

Translation

يُدهَنُ ماهيشڤارا بعجينةِ الصندلِ العَطِرة، ثم يُعبَدُ بزهورٍ طيّبةِ الرائحة وبأوراقِ البِلفا.

Word by Word

• श्रीखण्डेन: with sandalwood paste
• श्रीखण्डेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with sandalwood)

• सुगन्धेन: with fragrance
• सुगन्धेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (with fragrance)

• गुण्ठयेत्: should anoint/cover
• गुण्ठयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुण्ठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; should anoint/cover

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• महेश्वरम्: Maheshvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of sequence)

• सुगन्धपुष्पैः: with fragrant flowers
• सुगन्धपुष्पैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्ध + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (with fragrant flowers)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• बिल्वपत्रैः: with bilva leaves
• बिल्वपत्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (with bilva leaves)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; should worship

Speaker

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Hanūmanteśvara

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim in a riverside Śiva-kṣetra anoints a dark stone liṅga with sandal paste; bilva leaves and fragrant blossoms are arranged in neat layers; a calm sanctum with soft lamp-light.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Śrīkhaṇḍa (sandalwood)
• Bilva leaves

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic devotion values purity, fragrance, and sacred offerings—especially bilva leaves—as expressions of reverence to Śiva.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Revā Khaṇḍa tīrtha context underlies the worship; the tīrtha’s sanctity complements Śiva-pūjā performed there.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Anoint Śiva with sandal paste, then offer fragrant flowers and bilva leaves in worship.