Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

देवमूर्तिं शुभां कृत्वा रथस्थां सुप्रतिष्ठिताम् । चन्दनागुरुकर्पूरैरर्चितां कुंकुमेन च

Transliteration

devamūrtiṃ śubhāṃ kṛtvā rathasthāṃ supratiṣṭhitām | candanāgurukarpūrairarcitāṃ kuṃkumena ca

Translation

Nachdem man ein glückverheißendes Bild des Deva gestaltet, es wohl geweiht und auf einen Wagen gesetzt hat, soll man es mit Sandelholz, Agaru, Kampfer und auch mit Kunkuma (Safran) verehren.

Word by Word

• देवमूर्तिम्: the deity’s image/form
• देवमूर्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• शुभाम्: auspicious
• शुभाम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• रथस्थाम्: placed on a chariot
• रथस्थाम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण

• सुप्रतिष्ठिताम्: well-established/firmly installed
• सुप्रतिष्ठिताम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + प्रति-स्था (धातु) → प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण

• चन्दनागुरुकर्पूरैः: with sandalwood, agaru, and camphor
• चन्दनागुरुकर्पूरैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन + अगुरु + कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; करण (instrument)

• अर्चिताम्: worshipped/adorned
• अर्चिताम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) → अर्चित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण

• कुङ्कुमेन: with saffron/vermilion
• कुङ्कुमेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; करण

• च: and
• च: Discourse connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

Speaker

Sārasvata

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: nṛpa (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A well-formed auspicious deity-image, firmly installed on a decorated chariot, being worshipped with sandal paste, agaru smoke, camphor, and saffron marks; attendants hold trays of fragrant offerings.

Characters & Entities

• Deva (contextual deity-image; within Śaiva tīrtha narrative)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred travel and worship are enhanced through proper installation and reverent adornment of the deity’s image.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The practice is taught within the Vastrāpathakṣetra Māhātmya of Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Create and consecrate a deity-image, place it on a chariot, and worship with candana, agaru, karpūra, and kuṅkuma.