Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

सिंदूरागुरु कस्तूरी चंदनं रक्तचंदनम् । गोरोचना देवदारु पद्माक्षं च निशाद्वयम्

Transliteration

siṃdūrāguru kastūrī caṃdanaṃ raktacaṃdanam | gorocanā devadāru padmākṣaṃ ca niśādvayam

Translation

Vermilion, aguru, musk, sandalwood, red sandalwood, gorocanā, deodāra, padmākṣa, and the pair of niśā (the two ‘turmerics’)—these are the recommended anointing substances.

Word by Word

• sindūra-aguru: vermilion and aloe-wood (aguru)
• sindūra-aguru: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sindūra (प्रातिपदिक) + aguru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (समाहारद्वन्द्व)

• kastūrī: musk
• kastūrī: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kastūrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• candanaṃ: sandalwood
• candanaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• rakta-candanam: red sandalwood
• rakta-candanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः

• gorocanā: yellow pigment (from cow; gorocanā)
• gorocanā: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gorocanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• devadāru: deodar/cedar
• devadāru: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devadāru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• padmākṣaṃ: padmākṣa (a fragrant substance/seed; lit. lotus-eyed/lotus-seed)
• padmākṣaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः (padmasya akṣaḥ/akṣam)

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

• niśā-dvayam: the pair of niśā (two kinds of turmeric)
• niśā-dvayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः (niśāyāḥ dvayam)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Addressed as 'bāla' (dear child), i.e., a disciple/querent (often Pārvatī or a sage in frame narrative)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Kāśī temple sanctum: a Śiva-liṅga being anointed with fragrant paste; trays of vermilion, aguru, musk, sandalwood, red sandalwood, gorocanā, devadāru resin, padmākṣa seeds, and two kinds of niśā (turmeric) arranged in ritual order; priests and lamps in warm light.

Characters & Entities

• Siṃdūra
• Aguru
• Kastūrī
• Candana
• Raktacandana
• Gorocanā
• Devadāru
• Padmākṣa
• Niśā-dvaya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotional worship is refined through sacred substances that symbolize purity, fragrance, and reverence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the implied sacred arena where these offerings are taught and valorized.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A list of approved anointing substances (anulepana-dravya) such as sandalwood, aguru, and turmeric varieties.