Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 49

Devanagari script

देवा घ्राणेन तुष्यंति धूपं घ्राणहरं शुभम् । द्वादश्या दीपदानं तु कर्तव्यं मुक्तिमिच्छुभिः

Transliteration

devā ghrāṇena tuṣyaṃti dhūpaṃ ghrāṇaharaṃ śubham | dvādaśyā dīpadānaṃ tu kartavyaṃ muktimicchubhiḥ

Translation

Die Götter werden durch Wohlgeruch erfreut; Weihrauch ist glückverheißend und vertreibt üblen Geruch. Am Dvādaśī sollen jene, die Befreiung begehren, die Lampenopfergabe vollziehen.

Word by Word

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• घ्राणेन: by (their) smell; with the nose
• घ्राणेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घ्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• तुष्यन्ति: are pleased
• तुष्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• धूपम्: incense
• धूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• घ्राणहरम्: that carries/attracts the smell (fragrant)
• घ्राणहरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घ्राण-हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (घ्राणं हरति इति)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; धूपस्य विशेषणम्

• द्वादश्याः: of the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• द्वादश्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (तिथेः)

• दीपदानम्: the giving of a lamp
• दीपदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दीपस्य दानम्)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधसूचक (but/indeed)

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidhi (Obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (कर्तव्य = to be done)

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इच्छुभिः: by those who desire
• इच्छुभिः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छु (कृदन्त; √इष्/इच्छ् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) — ‘desiring’

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Temple interior brightened by rows of oil lamps on Dvādaśī; devotees place lamps near the deity; incense smoke lingers; the atmosphere suggests purification and release.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Dhūpa
• Dvādaśī
• Dīpa-dāna
• Mukti

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purifying offerings (fragrance and light) are linked with inner purification; lamp-offering is especially associated with the aspiration for mokṣa.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse provides vrata guidance within the Tīrthamāhātmya context; no distinct tirtha is specified in this line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offer dhūpa for divine pleasure and perform dīpa-dāna specifically on Dvādaśī, especially for those seeking liberation.