Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

यास्तु गंधांबुकणिकाः पतंति धरणीतले । ताभिराप्यायनं तेषां ये देवत्वमुपागताः

Transliteration

yāstu gaṃdhāṃbukaṇikāḥ pataṃti dharaṇītale | tābhirāpyāyanaṃ teṣāṃ ye devatvamupāgatāḥ

Translation

Ces fines gouttelettes d’eau parfumée qui tombent sur la terre : par elles sont nourris et ranimés ceux qui ont atteint l’état des dieux.

Word by Word

• याः: which (those)
• याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचकं सर्वनाम

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• गन्धाम्बुकणिकाः: drops of scented water
• गन्धाम्बुकणिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध-अम्बु-कणिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः (गन्धयुक्तम् अम्बु = गन्धाम्बु; तस्य कणिकाः)

• पतन्ति: fall
• पतन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• धरणीतले: on the surface of the earth
• धरणीतले: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी-तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ताभिः: by those (drops)
• ताभिः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• आप्यायनम्: nourishment/satiation
• आप्यायनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप्यायन (प्रातिपदिक; √प्या/√प्याय् (धातु) भाव/णिच्-नम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘पोषण’अर्थक

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• देवत्वम्: godhood
• देवत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवत्व (प्रातिपदिक; -त्व तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• उपागताः: having attained
• उपागताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपागत (प्रातिपदिक; उप-√गम् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa māhātmya narration style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Addressed as 'putra/child' in the surrounding instruction

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Perfumed water droplets fall onto earth at a coastal tīrtha; above, luminous deva-like ancestors receive refreshment, shown as radiant figures with gentle smiles.

Characters & Entities

• Prabhāsa-kṣetra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even subtle elements of a rite—like fragrant water droplets—carry merit and can bring real satisfaction to elevated ancestors.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra (the Prabhāsa sacred region) within the Skanda Purāṇa’s Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It implies the efficacy of water-based offerings in Śrāddha (libations/ritual sprinkling), emphasizing their nourishing effect on the departed.