Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 47

Devanagari script

कृष्णेनागुरुणा कृष्णं धूपयंति कलौ युगे । सकर्पूरेण राजेन्द्र कृष्णतुल्या भवंति ते

Transliteration

kṛṣṇenāguruṇā kṛṣṇaṃ dhūpayaṃti kalau yuge | sakarpūreṇa rājendra kṛṣṇatulyā bhavaṃti te

Translation

ಹೇ ರಾಜೇಂದ್ರ! ಕಲಿಯುಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣವರ್ಣ ಅಗರುವನ್ನು ಕರ್ಪೂರದೊಡನೆ ಸೇರಿಸಿ ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣನಿಗೆ ಧೂಪ ಅರ್ಪಿಸುವವರು, ತೇಜಸ್ಸು-ಭಾಗ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣತೂಲ್ಯರಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ.

Word by Word

• कृष्णेन: with/using black (substance) / Kṛṣṇa-related (as an incense)
• कृष्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अगुरुणा: with agaru (aloeswood)
• अगुरुणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कृष्णम्: Kṛṣṇa (the Lord)
• कृष्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन

• धूपयन्ति: they fumigate/incense
• धूपयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धूपय् (धातु; धूपयति-प्रयोगः, णिच् causative of धूप्)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कलौ: in Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• युगे: in the age/epoch
• युगे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• सकर्पूरेण: with camphor
• सकर्पूरेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक) + स (उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—सह कर्पूरेण (with camphor)

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• कृष्णतुल्याः: equal to Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णतुल्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Subject), बहुवचन; समासः—कृष्णस्य तुल्याः (equal to Kṛṣṇa)

• भवन्ति: they become
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they/those people
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Subject), बहुवचन

Speaker

Unspecified (Dvārakā Māhātmya narrator addressing a king)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: King (rājendra)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Blue-black Kṛṣṇa is worshiped with dark aguru smoke curling upward, brightened by camphor flame; devotees glow in reflected light, symbolizing becoming ‘Kṛṣṇa-like’.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Kali-yuga
• Aguru
• Karpūra (camphor)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In Kali-yuga, devotional services like incense-offering can elevate the devotee to extraordinary closeness with the Lord.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā is the narrative frame; the verse universalizes the practice for Kali-yuga devotees.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offer dhūpa (incense) to Kṛṣṇa using aguru and camphor.