Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 134

Devanagari script

पिधाय बुद्ध्या द्वाराणि मनो ध्याने निवेशयेत् । आहारं सात्त्विकं सेवेन्न तं येन विचेतनः

Transliteration

pidhāya buddhyā dvārāṇi mano dhyāne niveśayet | āhāraṃ sāttvikaṃ sevenna taṃ yena vicetanaḥ

Translation

Closing the ‘doors’ (of the senses) with discernment, one should place the mind in meditation. One should partake of sāttvika food—never that by which one becomes dull and senseless.

Word by Word

• पिधाय: having closed
• पिधाय: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier of action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), पि-धा धातोः; ‘having closed/shut’ (absolutive/gerund)

• बुद्ध्या: by (one’s) intellect
• बुद्ध्या: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by/with the intellect’

• द्वाराणि: doors (senses’ gates)
• द्वाराणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; object ‘doors/gates’

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘mind’ as object

• ध्याने: in meditation
• ध्याने: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative ‘in meditation’

• निवेशयेत्: should fix/settle (it)
• निवेशयेत्: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘should place/settle’

• आहारम्: food
• आहारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘food/diet’ as object

• सात्त्विकम्: sattvic, pure
• सात्त्विकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् of ‘आहारम्’

• सेवेत्: should consume/practice
• सेवेत्: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should partake/serve/use’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun ‘that (food)’

• येन: by which
• येन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; relative pronoun ‘by which’

• विचेतनः: becomes senseless
• विचेतनः: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-चेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; predicate adjective ‘unconscious/insentient’ (for a person)

Speaker

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

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An ascetic seated in padmāsana, eyes half-closed, with symbolic ‘doors’ (the senses) gently shut by the light of buddhi; simple sāttvika meal placed aside; aura of calm restraint.

Characters & Entities

• dhyāna

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Meditation requires guarding the senses and supporting clarity through sāttvika diet; dulling foods undermine spiritual practice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse teaches yogic method and lifestyle.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Practical prescriptions are given: restrain sense-gates, fix the mind in dhyāna, and follow sāttvika dietary discipline.