Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 73

Devanagari script

स्नात्वा यथोक्तविधिना कृत्वा विष्णोस्तथार्चनम् । वशीकृत्येन्द्रियग्रामं विशुद्धेनांतरात्मना

Transliteration

snātvā yathoktavidhinā kṛtvā viṣṇostathārcanam | vaśīkṛtyendriyagrāmaṃ viśuddhenāṃtarātmanā

Translation

Having bathed according to the prescribed rite and likewise performed worship of Viṣṇu, he brought the host of senses under control, his inward self made pure.

Word by Word

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive)

• यथोक्तविधिना: by the prescribed procedure
• यथोक्तविधिना: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथा + उक्त + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; यथोक्तः विधिः येन (instrumental: according to the prescribed rule)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तथा: then/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय (adverb: likewise/then)

• अर्चनम्: worship
• अर्चनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वशीकृत्य: having brought under control
• वशीकृत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वशी + कृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund); causative sense (to bring under control)

• इन्द्रियग्रामम्: the group of senses
• इन्द्रियग्रामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय + ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; इन्द्रियाणां ग्रामः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• विशुद्धेन: with pure
• विशुद्धेन: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (pure)

• अन्तरात्मना: inner self
• अन्तरात्मना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; अन्तरः आत्मा यस्य/अन्तरात्मा (inner self)

Speaker

Agastya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Sarayū (implied) / Ayodhyā-kṣetra

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At dawn on a river ghat, the ascetic completes ritual bathing, then offers flowers and tulasī at a Viṣṇu shrine; afterward he sits with eyes lowered, senses withdrawn, a subtle aura of inner clarity.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Viṣṇuśarman

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Outer rites (snāna, arcana) are fulfilled by inner transformation—sense-control and purified intention—forming complete Purāṇic dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Within Ayodhyāmāhātmya, the practices are situated in Ayodhyā’s sacred environment, implying it as conducive to pure worship and self-mastery.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Bathing according to injunction (yathokta-vidhi) and worship of Viṣṇu (arcana), accompanied by disciplining the senses.