Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

ध्वजभूतो ध्वजं दत्त्वा विपापः स्यात्पताकया । विधाय चित्रविन्यास गंधर्वैः सह मोदते

Transliteration

dhvajabhūto dhvajaṃ dattvā vipāpaḥ syātpatākayā | vidhāya citravinyāsa gaṃdharvaiḥ saha modate

Translation

By offering a banner (dhvaja), one becomes as it were a banner of honor; by giving a flag (patākā), one is freed from sin. And having arranged ornate designs, one rejoices in the company of the Gandharvas.

Word by Word

• dhvaja-bhūtaḥ: having become a banner
• dhvaja-bhūtaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त; √bhū धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘भूत’; तत्पुरुषः (ध्वजः भूतो) = having become a banner/flag-like

• dhvajam: a flag
• dhvajam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘दत्त्वा’ (having given)

• vipāpaḥ: sinless/free from sin
• vipāpaḥ: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (one becomes)

• syāt: would become
• syāt: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• patākayā: by (means of) a banner/flag
• patākayā: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• vidhāya: having made/arranged
• vidhāya: Kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धा धातु) उपसर्ग-वि
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive) ‘विधाय’ = having arranged/made

• citra-vinyāsam: a beautiful arrangement/design
• citra-vinyāsam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक) + vinyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (चित्रः विन्यासः)

• gaṃdharvaiḥ: with Gandharvas
• gaṃdharvaiḥ: Sahakari (Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṃdharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakari (Association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (with)

• modate: rejoices
• modate: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mud (मुद् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Skanda

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A temple courtyard during festival: tall banners and fluttering flags; intricate decorative patterns on the ground; celestial Gandharvas appear, singing as the donor rejoices.

Characters & Entities

• Gandharva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even festive and aesthetic offerings to the deity—like banners and decorations—are dharmic acts that purify and elevate the devotee.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the verse praises the merit of temple-festival offerings in Śiva worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dhvaja-dāna (offering a banner), patākā-dāna (offering a flag), and citra-vinyāsa (decorative arrangements) for the deity’s shrine.