Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

पूजयेद्देवतां भक्त्या पुष्पधूपान्नतर्पणैः । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रान्निर्धनो लभते धनम्

Transliteration

pūjayeddevatāṃ bhaktyā puṣpadhūpānnatarpaṇaiḥ | aputro labhate putrānnirdhano labhate dhanam

Translation

花・香・食の供物と満足の供養をもって、信愛により神を礼拝すべきである。子なき者は子を得、貧しき者は財を得る。

Word by Word

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवताम्: the deity
• देवताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• पुष्पधूपान्नतर्पणैः: with flowers, incense, food, and libations
• पुष्पधूपान्नतर्पणैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + धूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (flowers, incense, food, and offerings)

• अपुत्रः: a sonless man
• अपुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्-उपसर्ग) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषवत् निषेधार्थक-समासभाव (a-puṭra = without a son)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• निर्धनः: a poor man
• निर्धनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर् (उपसर्ग) + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-विशेषणवत् ‘without wealth’

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Unknown (contextual narrator within Māheśvara Khaṇḍa discourse)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Koṭitīrtha (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee performs pūjā with a tray of flowers, incense, and food offerings before the deity; water is poured in tarpaṇa; the scene subtly suggests blessings of children and wealth through symbolic motifs (cradle, overflowing pot).

Characters & Entities

• Devatā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion expressed through simple, sincere offerings is said to transform worldly lack into auspicious fulfillment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse focuses on the efficacy of worship within the Adhyāya 53 sacred setting, without naming the tirtha directly.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform deity-worship with flowers, incense, food offerings (naivedya), and tarpaṇa/propitiatory offerings.