Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 201

Devanagari script

अग्निहोत्रफलो धूपो गोविंदस्य समर्पितः । भूमिदानेन सदृशं गंधदानफलं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

agnihotraphalo dhūpo goviṃdasya samarpitaḥ | bhūmidānena sadṛśaṃ gaṃdhadānaphalaṃ smṛtam

Translation

Incense offered to Govinda is said to bestow the fruit of the Agnihotra. The merit of gifting fragrance is remembered as equal to the merit of gifting land.

Word by Word

• अग्निहोत्रफलः: having the fruit of Agnihotra
• अग्निहोत्रफलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्निहोत्र-फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अग्निहोत्रस्य फलम् इव/अग्निहोत्र-फलः = अग्निहोत्रफलसमः)

• धूपः: incense
• धूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• गोविंदस्य: of Govinda
• गोविंदस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• समर्पितः: offered/dedicated
• समर्पितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√अर्प् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भूमिदानेन: by the gift of land
• भूमिदानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूमेः दानम्)

• सदृशम्: equal to
• सदृशम्: Pratimana (Standard of comparison/उपमान-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• गन्धदानफलम्: the fruit of giving fragrance (incense/perfume)
• गन्धदानफलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध-दान-फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गन्धस्य दानस्य फलम्)

• स्मृतम्: is said/considered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि भावः—‘is considered/remembered’

Speaker

Brahmā (deduced, Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa narrative style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gopratāra (context of Govinda offerings)

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close-up devotional offering: incense smoke curling before Govinda’s image; a tray with sandal paste and perfumes; in the background, a homa fire subtly alluding to Agnihotra; a symbolic field/land deed motif hinting at bhūmi-dāna equivalence.

Characters & Entities

• Govinda
• Agnihotra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Simple devotional offerings, when dedicated to Govinda, can equal major Vedic rites and great charities in merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse continues the Ayodhyā Māhātmya context (with nearby tīrthas like Gopratāra implied), focusing on offerings to Govinda.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offering dhūpa (incense) to Govinda and performing gandha-dāna (gift of fragrance/perfume).