Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

कर्पूरागुरुमिश्रैश्च तथान्यैः सुसुगन्धिभिः । परिवेष्ट्य शुभैर्वस्त्रैः पुष्पैः संभूष्य शोभनैः

Transliteration

karpūrāgurumiśraiśca tathānyaiḥ susugandhibhiḥ | pariveṣṭya śubhairvastraiḥ puṣpaiḥ saṃbhūṣya śobhanaiḥ

Translation

With camphor and aguru mingled, and with other sweet fragrances besides, they wrapped (the body) in auspicious cloth and adorned it with beautiful flowers.

Word by Word

• कर्पूर-अगुरु-मिश्रैः: with mixtures of camphor and aloe
• कर्पूर-अगुरु-मिश्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्पूर + अगुरु + मिश्र (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: समासः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभाव: कर्पूरागुरुभिः मिश्रैः = mixed with camphor and aloe); पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/प्रकार) = likewise/also

• अन्यैः: with other (things)
• अन्यैः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural); विशेषणम् (implicit ‘द्रव्यैः’)

• सुसुगन्धिभिः: with very fragrant (substances)
• सुसुगन्धिभिः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + सुगन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सु-सुगन्धि = very fragrant); पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• परिवेष्ट्य: having wrapped
• परिवेष्ट्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) = having wrapped

• शुभैः: auspicious
• शुभैः: Karana (Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् ‘वस्त्रैः’

• वस्त्रैः: with cloths/garments
• वस्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• सम्भूष्य: having adorned
• सम्भूष्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भूष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) = having adorned

• शोभनैः: beautiful
• शोभनैः: Karana (Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् ‘पुष्पैः’ (or all instruments)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The body is wrapped in bright, auspicious cloth; attendants sprinkle flowers and apply fragrant mixtures of camphor and aguru; the bier becomes a floral, perfumed sanctum.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Camphor (Karpūra)
• Aguru

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rites performed with purity and reverence are part of dharma; honoring the body reflects respect for the soul’s journey onward.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Wrap the body in auspicious cloth and adorn it with fragrant substances (camphor, aguru, etc.) and flowers.