Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

उदंकदीर्घतमसोरर्घ्यं च प्रददौ नृपः । अलंकृते प्रपामध्ये वस्त्रचामरतोरणैः

Transliteration

udaṃkadīrghatamasorarghyaṃ ca pradadau nṛpaḥ | alaṃkṛte prapāmadhye vastracāmaratoraṇaiḥ

Translation

Au centre d’un pavillon richement orné de tissus, de chāmaras et de festons, le roi offrit l’arghya (l’eau d’honneur) à Udaṅka et à Dīrghatamas.

Word by Word

• udaṃka-dīrghatamasoḥ: of Udaṃka and Dīrghatamas
• udaṃka-dīrghatamasoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaṃka (प्रातिपदिक) + dīrghatamasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः; ‘उदंकस्य च दीर्घतमसस्य च’

• arghyam: an offering (arghya)
• arghyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘अर्घ्यम्’ = respectful offering (water etc.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक conjunction

• pradadau: gave
• pradadau: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘प्रददौ’ = gave

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• alaṃkṛte: in the decorated (area)
• alaṃkṛte: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alaṃkṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ (धातु) + क्त, उपसर्ग अलम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘अलंकृते’ = in the decorated (place)

• prapā-madhye: in the middle of the water-shed/rest-house
• prapā-madhye: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prapā (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रपायाः मध्ये)

• vastra-cāmara-toraṇaiḥ: with cloths, fans, and festoons
• vastra-cāmara-toraṇaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + cāmara (प्रातिपदिक) + toraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः; ‘वस्त्रैः चामरैः तोरणैः’ = with cloths, yak-tail fans, and festoons

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narration within Setu-khaṇḍa; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa addressing sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setukṣetra (Setu)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In a richly decorated pavilion hung with cloth, chowries, and festoons, the king offers arghya to Udaṅka and Dīrghatamas; vessels gleam; attendants stand with fans and garlands.

Characters & Entities

• Udaṅka
• Dīrghatamas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Atithi-dharma teaches that reverence shown to sages through proper offerings becomes a purifier for the household and the kingdom.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not explicit in this verse; it emphasizes dharmic hospitality within the Setu-khaṇḍa narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offering arghya—respectful water/oblation—to honored guests (especially sages), performed in a ceremonially prepared space.