Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

द्वारकापथिगच्छद्भिरन्योन्यं भक्तिवर्द्धनम् । जप्तव्यं वैदिकं जाप्यं स्तोत्रमागमिकं तथा

Transliteration

dvārakāpathigacchadbhiranyonyaṃ bhaktivarddhanam | japtavyaṃ vaidikaṃ jāpyaṃ stotramāgamikaṃ tathā

Translation

Ceux qui cheminent sur la route de Dvārakā doivent, les uns par les autres, faire croître la dévotion. Qu’ils accomplissent le japa védique et récitent aussi les hymnes selon l’Āgama.

Word by Word

• द्वारका-पथि-गच्छद्भिः: by those going on the road to Dvārakā
• द्वारका-पथि-गच्छद्भिः: Karana (Instrument/कर्ता-समूह-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक) + पथि (पथिन्-शब्द) + √गम् (धातु) → गच्छत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (द्वारकायाः पथि गच्छन्तः) + वर्तमान-कृदन्त (गच्छत्)

• अन्योन्यम्: mutually
• अन्योन्यम्: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial: mutually)

• भक्ति-वर्द्धनम्: increase of devotion
• भक्ति-वर्द्धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति + वर्द्धन (प्रातिपदिक; √वृध् धातु से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भक्तेः वर्द्धनम्)

• जप्तव्यम्: to be recited
• जप्तव्यम्: Karya (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √जप् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्) → जप्तव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (to be recited)

• वैदिकम्: Vedic
• वैदिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• जाप्यम्: meant for japa
• जाप्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √जप् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) → जाप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (fit for japa)

• स्तोत्रम्: hymn
• स्तोत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक; √स्तु धातु से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आगमिकम्: Āgamic (tantric/scriptural)
• आगमिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आगमिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थ (also/likewise)

Speaker

Nārada (instructing sages/pilgrims; speaker attribution from immediate narrative context of Adhyāya 30)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā (approach route as yātrā-māhātmya)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: munayaḥ / dvija-uttamāḥ (sages, best of twice-born)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A caravan of pilgrims on the coastal Saurashtra road, walking in small groups, one leading Vedic japa on beads while others respond with Āgamic stotras; flags, conch, and tulasī garlands; distant hint of Dvārakā’s spires and the sea breeze.

Characters & Entities

• Dvārakā
• Veda
• Āgama
• Japa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Pilgrimage is strengthened through companionship that increases devotion and through disciplined chanting and hymn-recitation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā, especially the sanctified journey/path leading to it.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vaidika japa (Vedic mantra repetition) and Āgamic stotra (hymns from Āgamic tradition), practiced while traveling.