Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 82

Devanagari script

वस्त्राणि च विचित्राणि गंधमाल्यानुलेपनैः । देववत्पूजनं कृत्वा गां च दद्यात्पयस्विनीम्

Transliteration

vastrāṇi ca vicitrāṇi gaṃdhamālyānulepanaiḥ | devavatpūjanaṃ kṛtvā gāṃ ca dadyātpayasvinīm

Translation

Und (indem man) vielfältige Gewänder darbringt, zusammen mit Düften, Girlanden und Salbungen—nachdem man die Verehrung wie für eine Gottheit vollzogen hat—soll man auch eine milchgebende Kuh als Gabe spenden.

Word by Word

• वस्त्राणि: clothes
• वस्त्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• विचित्राणि: variegated, fine
• विचित्राणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (वस्त्राणि)

• गन्धमाल्यानुलेपनैः: with perfumes, garlands, and unguents
• गन्धमाल्यानुलेपनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha + mālya + anulepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्व-समासः (गन्धाः, माल्यानि, अनुलेपनानि च)

• देववत्: as (one would) a deity
• देववत्: Manner (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: devavat (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: like a god)

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive): having done

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• पयस्विनीम्: milk-yielding
• पयस्विनीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: payasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (गाम्)

Speaker

Vyāsa

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: rājan (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A richly adorned altar where the Purāṇa is worshiped like a deity with sandal paste, garlands, and incense; outside, a gentle, well-kept cow with calf is ceremonially gifted, with water-pot and kusha for sankalpa.

Characters & Entities

• go-dāna (cow donation)
• pūjā as deva-vat

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The sacred narrative is honored as divine presence; charity—especially go-dāna—embodies compassion and sustains dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse functions as completion-rite guidance within the Dharmāraṇya māhātmya framework.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform deva-like worship with garments, fragrance, garlands, and unguents, and donate a milk-giving cow.