Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

कृतोपवासनियमा स्नापयित्वा महेश्वरम् । पञ्चामृतसुगन्धेन धूपदीपनिवेदनैः

Transliteration

kṛtopavāsaniyamā snāpayitvā maheśvaram | pañcāmṛtasugandhena dhūpadīpanivedanaiḥ

Translation

Ayant observé les règles du jeûne, elle baigna Maheśvara avec le pañcāmṛta parfumé, et le servit d’encens, de lampes et d’offrandes.

Word by Word

• कृत: done, performed
• कृत: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (past passive participle; neuter nominative singular)

• उपवास: fasting
• उपवास: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (masculine nominative singular)

• नियमाः: observances, rules
• नियमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (masculine nominative plural)

• स्नापयित्वा: having bathed (him)
• स्नापयित्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) + त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावः (absolutive/gerund); ‘स्नापयित्वा’ = having bathed (caused to bathe)

• महेश्वरम्: Maheshvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (masculine accusative singular)

• पञ्चामृत: five nectars (pañcāmṛta)
• पञ्चामृत: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समासः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (neuter nominative singular as compound base)

• सुगन्धेन: with fragrance, with perfume
• सुगन्धेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचनम् (masculine instrumental singular)

• धूप: incense
• धूप: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (masculine nominative singular; compound member)

• दीप: lamp
• दीप: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (masculine nominative singular; compound member)

• निवेदनैः: with offerings (food-presentations)
• निवेदनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवेदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (neuter instrumental plural)

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā) tīrtha (general Revākhaṇḍa setting)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee after fasting performs Śiva-abhiṣeka: a liṅga or Maheśvara icon bathed with fragrant pañcāmṛta; incense smoke curls upward; lamps glow; offerings arranged neatly on a low altar near a riverbank shrine.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• pañcāmṛta
• dhūpa
• dīpa
• nivedana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion becomes complete when inner discipline (fasting) is joined with reverent service (abhiṣeka and pūjā).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse focuses on the act of worship; the broader context includes the Mārkaṇḍa-hrada and associated shrine area mentioned just prior.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Upavāsa (fasting), bathing Śiva (snāpana/abhiṣeka) with fragrant pañcāmṛta, and offering dhūpa, dīpa, and nivedana.