Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

सार्धयामत्रयं तत्र परिवारसमन्विताः । बलिपूजोपहारैश्च गंधं माल्यानुलेपनैः

Transliteration

sārdhayāmatrayaṃ tatra parivārasamanvitāḥ | balipūjopahāraiśca gaṃdhaṃ mālyānulepanaiḥ

Translation

Dort, von ihrem Gefolge begleitet, vollzogen sie die Verehrung drei Nachtwachen lang und noch darüber hinaus—mit Bali-Opfern, Pūjā und ehrerbietigen Gaben, mit Düften, Girlanden und Salbungen.

Word by Word

• सार्धयामत्रयम्: three yāmas (watches) in full (i.e., for three watches)
• सार्धयामत्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्ध (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + याम (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/संबन्ध-तत्पुरुषः (त्रयाणां यामानां सार्धम् = ‘सार्धयामत्रयम्’)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• परिवार-समन्विताः: accompanied by attendants
• परिवार-समन्विताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिवार (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘समन्वित’; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (परिवारेण समन्विताः = ‘attended by retinue’)

• बलि-पूजा-उपहारैः: with offerings, worship, and gifts
• बलि-पूजा-उपहारैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + उपहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (बलयः च पूजाः च उपहाराः च)

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

• गन्धम्: fragrance, perfume
• गन्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• माल्य-अनुलेपनैः: with garlands and unguents
• माल्य-अनुलेपनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (माल्यानि च अनुलेपनानि च)

Speaker

Pulastya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Arbuda-kṣetra (implied)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: King

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A nocturnal worship scene on Arbuda: devas with attendants conduct prolonged pūjā; bali offerings placed, trays of flowers and perfumes, garlands and unguents; the setting is lit by multiple lamps under a starry sky.

Characters & Entities

• Devas (worshippers)
• Pūjā
• Bali (offerings)
• Arbuda (location implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sustained, reverential worship—expressed through time, attention, and offerings—ripens devotion into spiritual potency.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The worship is performed at Mount Arbuda, continuing its portrayal as a powerful seat of Devi-upāsanā.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Bali offerings, pūjā-upahāra, and the use of gandha (perfumes), mālya (garlands), and anulepana (unguents), along with extended night worship.