Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 154

Devanagari script

बहूदकस्य तीरे च प्रेतानुद्दिश्य दीयते । यत्किंचिदक्षयं तेषामुपतिष्ठेन्न चान्यथा

Transliteration

bahūdakasya tīre ca pretānuddiśya dīyate | yatkiṃcidakṣayaṃ teṣāmupatiṣṭhenna cānyathā

Translation

Tout ce qui est donné sur la rive de Bahūdaka, en l’offrant aux pretas (les défunts), devient impérissable pour eux : cela leur parvient assurément, et non autrement.

Word by Word

• बहूदकस्य: of Bahūdaka
• बहूदकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहूदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः—बहु + उदक (कर्मधारय)

• तीरे: on the bank
• तीरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• प्रेतान्: departed spirits; pretas
• प्रेतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• उद्दिश्य: intending; dedicating to
• उद्दिश्य: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु) → उद्दिश्य (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having intended/for the sake of’

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (is given)

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक

• किंचित्: anything; something
• किंचित्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite)

• अक्षयम्: imperishable; inexhaustible
• अक्षयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (यत्/किंचित् इति)

• तेषाम्: of them (the pretas)
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• उपतिष्ठेत्: would accrue; would be present (to them)
• उपतिष्ठेत्: Kriya (Result/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Bahūdaka

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At the river’s edge, a performer of śrāddha offers water with sesame (tila) and kuśa, with a small piṇḍa plate nearby; subtle ancestral silhouettes receive the offering; the atmosphere is solemn, compassionate, and sacred.

Characters & Entities

• Bahūdaka
• Preta (departed)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Charity dedicated to the departed at a powerful tīrtha becomes unfailing and enduring in its benefit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Bahūdaka tīra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Giving dāna ‘preta-uddiśya’—dedicated offerings for the departed/ancestors.