Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

इङ्गुदैर्बदरैर्बिल्वैरक्षतैश्च जलेन वा । प्रेतानां कारयेच्छ्राद्धमानन्देश्वर उत्तमे

Transliteration

iṅgudairbadarairbilvairakṣataiśca jalena vā | pretānāṃ kārayecchrāddhamānandeśvara uttame

Translation

Au très excellent Ānandeśvara, qu’on accomplisse le śrāddha pour les défunts avec des fruits d’iṅguda, des jujubes (badara), des fruits de bilva et du riz intact—ou même avec de l’eau seule.

Word by Word

• इङ्गुदैः: with iṅguda fruits
• इङ्गुदैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इङ्गुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• बदरैः: with jujubes
• बदरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• बिल्वैः: with bilva fruits
• बिल्वैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• अक्षतैः: with unbroken rice grains
• अक्षतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

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

• जलेन: with water
• जलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-अव्यय (particle of alternative)

• प्रेतानाम्: of the departed spirits
• प्रेतानाम्: Sampradana/Artha (Beneficiary/सम्प्रदान-अर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• कारयेत्: should cause to be performed
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative/imperative sense), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• आनन्देश्वर: O Ānandeśvara
• आनन्देश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आनन्दस्य ईश्वरः)

• उत्तमे: O best (one)
• उत्तमे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying संबोधन)

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ānandeśvara

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: A king addressed as Rājendra/Bhārata (likely Yudhiṣṭhira-type addressee in tīrtha-kathā frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim at a riverside Śiva shrine (Ānandeśvara) performs śrāddha/tarpaṇa with a small leaf-bowl of water, akṣata, and simple fruits (iṅguda, badara, bilva) arranged on darbha; ancestors are envisioned receiving offerings.

Characters & Entities

• Ānandeśvara
• Śrāddha
• Pretas
• Bilva
• Akṣata
• Jala

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In a powerful tīrtha, sincerity matters more than abundance—ancestral rites may be effective even with minimal offerings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ānandeśvara-tīrtha, praised as an excellent place for śrāddha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Śrāddha for pretas using fruits, akṣata, or even only water.