Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

आराधनं प्रवक्ष्यामि येन प्रीता भवंति ते

Transliteration

ārādhanaṃ pravakṣyāmi yena prītā bhavaṃti te

Translation

À présent, j’enseignerai la manière d’adoration (ārādhana) par laquelle ces Kṣetrapāla deviennent satisfaits.

Word by Word

• ārādhanaṃ: worship, propitiation
• ārādhanaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārādhana (प्रातिपदिक; √rādh/राध् + उपसर्ग ā-; भाववाचक-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; कर्म/विषयवाचक

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall explain/tell
• pravakṣyāmi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्) + प्र- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• yena: by which
• yena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध/करणवाचक

• prītāḥ: pleased
• prītāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (कृदन्त; √prī/प्री + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (ते इति सर्वनामस्य)

• bhavanti: become/are
• bhavanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• te: they
• te: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) continuing the instruction (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A teacher-guru figure within a temple precinct begins instructing devotees on the worship that pleases the Kṣetrapālas; the shrine boundary and guardian iconography are implied.

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrapālas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine guardians are approached through proper ārādhana—disciplined worship that aligns the devotee with dharma and protection.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse introduces a worship method rather than praising a single named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A forthcoming prescription: a defined procedure of Kṣetrapāla worship is to be taught next.