Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

वेदोक्तेन विधानेन द्विजाः पूज्याः प्रयत्नतः । हस्तमात्रैः कुशैश्चैव तिलैश्चैवाक्षतैर्नृप

Transliteration

vedoktena vidhānena dvijāḥ pūjyāḥ prayatnataḥ | hastamātraiḥ kuśaiścaiva tilaiścaivākṣatairnṛpa

Translation

വേദോക്തവിധിപ്രകാരം ദ്വിജരെ പരിശ്രമത്തോടെ പൂജിക്കണം. ഹേ നൃപാ, ഒരു കൈപ്പിടി കുശ, തില, അക്ഷതം മാത്രമായാലും അവരുടെ സത്കാരം ചെയ്യാം.

Word by Word

• वेदोक्तेन: by the Veda-prescribed
• वेदोक्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + उक्त (प्रातिपदिक); उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम्

• विधानेन: by the procedure/rite
• विधानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• द्विजाः: Brāhmaṇas (twice-born)
• द्विजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पूज्याः: to be honored
• पूज्याः: Kriya (Predicative obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूज्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्तव्यता-बोधक (gerundive: ‘to be honored’)

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort/earnestly
• प्रयत्नतः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), प्रकार/रीति-बोधक (manner)

• हस्तमात्रैः: with only a handful (measure)
• हस्तमात्रैः: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कुशैः: with kuśa grass
• कुशैः: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अक्षतैः: with unbroken rice grains
• अक्षतैः: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Vyāsa (in dialogue with Yudhiṣṭhira) [deduced]

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-tīrtha (general)

Type: tirtha

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: King (nṛpa), identified by context as Yudhiṣṭhira

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A compact ritual arrangement: a small bundle of kuśa, a pinch of sesame, and a small heap of unbroken rice placed neatly; dvijas are greeted with añjali and offered seats; the austerity of materials contrasts with the dignity of honor.

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Dvija (Brāhmaṇas)
• Kuśa
• Tila
• Akṣata

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even small offerings become powerful when performed carefully according to sacred injunction and right intent.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Revā/Narmadā tīrtha setting where śrāddha and honoring Brāhmaṇas are emphasized.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vedic honoring of Brāhmaṇas using even minimal ritual materials: kuśa grass, sesame, and akṣata.