Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

एवं ध्यात्वा महादेवं देवीं च गिरि कन्यकाम् । न्यासक्रमेण संपूज्य देवं गंधादिभिः क्रमात्

Transliteration

evaṃ dhyātvā mahādevaṃ devīṃ ca giri kanyakām | nyāsakrameṇa saṃpūjya devaṃ gaṃdhādibhiḥ kramāt

Translation

Thus, having meditated on Mahādeva and on the Goddess, the Daughter of the Mountain, one should worship the Deity in proper order—performing nyāsa as prescribed, and then offering sandal and the other upacāras step by step.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—महान् + देवः (कर्मधारय)

• देवीम्: the Goddess
• देवीम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• गिरि: of the mountain
• गिरि: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (समासार्थे—गिरिकन्यका इत्यत्र)

• कन्यकाम्: the maiden (daughter)
• कन्यकाम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न्यासक्रमेण: by the sequence of nyāsa
• न्यासक्रमेण: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यासक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः—न्यासस्य क्रमः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• संपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संपूज्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गन्धादिभिः: with fragrances and the like
• गन्धादिभिः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—गन्धः आदिः येषां तैः (गन्ध-आदि; ‘etc.’ sense)

• क्रमात्: in order, successively
• क्रमात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial ablative); क्रमशः (in due order)

Speaker

Ritual instructor/narratorial voice within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A calm worshipper seated before a Śiva-pīṭha, first meditating on Mahādeva with Pārvatī, then touching limbs for nyāsa, then offering sandal paste and successive upacāras in order.

Characters & Entities

• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Girī-kanyakā (Pārvatī/Devī)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Right worship begins inwardly (dhyāna), is sealed through sanctifying placement (nyāsa), and is completed outwardly through ordered offerings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific sacred geography is named; the focus is on correct Śiva-Śakti worship procedure.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform dhyāna of Śiva and Pārvatī, then nyāsa in the proper sequence, then offer gandha (sandal/fragrance) and other upacāras क्रमात् (in order).