Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

ध्यानं च सात्त्विकं ज्ञेयं राजसं हि नृणामिव । शुद्धचामीकराभासं गजाननमलौकिकम्

Transliteration

dhyānaṃ ca sāttvikaṃ jñeyaṃ rājasaṃ hi nṛṇāmiva | śuddhacāmīkarābhāsaṃ gajānanamalaukikam

Translation

La méditation doit être comprise comme sāttvika, et aussi comme rājasa—celle-ci, telle qu’on la trouve chez les hommes. Dans la contemplation sāttvika, voyez le Seigneur à face d’éléphant, d’un éclat d’or pur, au-delà du monde.

Word by Word

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन

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

• सात्त्विकम्: sattvic (pure)
• सात्त्विकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ध्यानस्य)

• ज्ञेयम्: to be known/understood
• ज्ञेयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तव्यता/योग्यता-वाचक कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• राजसम्: rajasic (passionate)
• राजसम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ध्यानस्य)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• इव: like/as
• इव: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• शुद्धचामीकराभासम्: having the luster of pure gold
• शुद्धचामीकराभासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध-चामीकर-आभास (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गजाननम्)

• गजाननम्: the elephant-faced one (Gaṇeśa)
• गजाननम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज-आनन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अलौकिकम्: supernatural, not worldly
• अलौकिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गजाननम्)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrim/adhikārin addressed as ‘bhavadbhiḥ’ in surrounding context

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gaṇeśa envisioned as alaukika and radiant like refined gold; the scene emphasizes luminous aura rather than narrative action.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇeśa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dhyāna varies by guṇa; the sāttvika form is luminous and elevating, guiding the worshipper toward purity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra region is the broader backdrop; this verse teaches guṇa-based meditation rather than praising a specific tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Choose and perform sāttvika (golden, transcendent) contemplation of Gaṇeśa; rājasa contemplation is also acknowledged.