Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

ध्रुवं च निश्चलं शांतं परीतं वि जयश्रिया । कार्यार्थं रक्तकुसुमै रक्तचंदनवारिभिः

Transliteration

dhruvaṃ ca niścalaṃ śāṃtaṃ parītaṃ vi jayaśriyā | kāryārthaṃ raktakusumai raktacaṃdanavāribhiḥ

Translation

Then, steadfast, unmoving, and tranquil—encircled by the glory of victory—one should worship Him for the fulfillment of one’s purpose with red flowers and with water fragrant with red sandalwood.

Word by Word

• ध्रुवम्: firm; certain
• ध्रुवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन (used adjectivally: firm/certain)

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

• निश्चलम्: unmoving
• निश्चलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन (immovable)

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन (peaceful)

• परीतम्: surrounded
• परीतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-इ (धातु) → परीत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन (surrounded/encircled)

• विजयश्रिया: by the glory of victory
• विजयश्रिया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विजयस्य श्रीः = glory of victory)

• कार्यार्थम्: for the purpose of the task
• कार्यार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (for the sake of accomplishing the task)

• रक्तकुसुमैः: with red flowers
• रक्तकुसुमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (रक्तानि कुसुमानि = red flowers)

• रक्तचन्दनवारिभिः: with water (mixed) with red sandalwood
• रक्तचन्दनवारिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (रक्तचन्दनेन युक्तानि वारिणि = waters mixed with red sandal)

Speaker

Unspecified in snippet; instructional tone suggests the māhātmya narrator prescribing Vināyaka-upāsanā.

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A worship scene: devotees offer red blossoms and pour red-sandal-scented water before tranquil, steadfast Vināyaka, encircled by a subtle aura of victory (jaya-śrī).

Characters & Entities

• Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Calm, steady devotion paired with proper offerings is presented as a dharmic means to attain success and victory.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where Vināyaka worship is taught as part of the site’s māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offer red flowers and use water infused with red sandalwood in worship aimed at accomplishing a desired task.