Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

शंखोदकं तीर्थवराद्वरिष्ठं पादोदकं तीर्थवराद्वरिष्ठम् । नैवेद्यशेषं क्रतुकोटितुल्यं निर्माल्यशेषं व्रतदानतुल्यम्

Transliteration

śaṃkhodakaṃ tīrthavarādvariṣṭhaṃ pādodakaṃ tīrthavarādvariṣṭham | naivedyaśeṣaṃ kratukoṭitulyaṃ nirmālyaśeṣaṃ vratadānatulyam

Translation

The water from the sacred conch (śaṅkhodaka) is the most excellent among all tīrthas; the water that has washed the Lord’s feet is likewise the most excellent among tīrthas. The remnants of naivedya, the offered food, equal the merit of countless sacrifices, and the remnants of nirmālya, the sacred garlands, equal the merit of vows and gifts.

Word by Word

• शंखोदकम्: conch-water
• शंखोदकम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शंखस्य उदकम्)

• तीर्थवरात्: than the best pilgrimage-place
• तीर्थवरात्: Apadana (Source/Comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वरं तीर्थम्)

• वरिष्ठम्: most excellent
• वरिष्ठम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (superlative)

• पादोदकम्: foot-water (water from the feet)
• पादोदकम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादस्य उदकम्)

• तीर्थवरात्: than the best pilgrimage-place
• तीर्थवरात्: Apadana (Source/Comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वरं तीर्थम्)

• वरिष्ठम्: most excellent
• वरिष्ठम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (superlative)

• नैवेद्यशेषम्: remnant of offering (naivedya)
• नैवेद्यशेषम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नैवेद्यस्य शेषः)

• क्रतुकोटितुल्यम्: equal to ten million sacrifices
• क्रतुकोटितुल्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रतु + कोटि + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्रतुकोट्या तुल्यम्)

• निर्माल्यशेषम्: remnant of garlands/flowers (nirmālya)
• निर्माल्यशेषम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्माल्य + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (निर्माल्यस्य शेषः)

• व्रतदानतुल्यम्: equal to (the merit of) vows and gifts
• व्रतदानतुल्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रत + दान + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (व्रतदानयोः तुल्यम्)

Speaker

Prahlāda (continued)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Śaṅkhodaka & Pādodaka (as temple-tīrtha within Dvārakā worship)

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Temple ritual close-up: priest pours conch-water into a devotee’s cupped hands; another receives pādodaka; devotees share naivedya prasāda; garlands (nirmālya) are placed on heads; a radiant Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa icon in the sanctum.

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkha-udaka (conch water)
• Pādodaka (foot-wash water)
• Naivedya
• Nirmālya
• Tīrtha
• Vrata
• Dāna
• Kratu/Yajña

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Consecrated substances (prasāda) from worship are treated as supremely purifying—surpassing even conventional pilgrimage and sacrifice in merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Tīrtha is invoked in principle; within this section it supports the devotional culture associated with Dvārakā Māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Reverence and implied consumption/use of śaṅkhodaka, pādodaka, naivedya-śeṣa, and nirmālya-śeṣa as sacred prasāda.