Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

लेपयेच्चंदनैः शुभ्रैः कुकुमैः सिंदुरासकैः । कर्पूरागुरुकस्तूरीमिश्रितैः कर्द्दमैस्तथा

Transliteration

lepayeccaṃdanaiḥ śubhraiḥ kukumaiḥ siṃdurāsakaiḥ | karpūrāgurukastūrīmiśritaiḥ karddamaistathā

Translation

പ്രകാശമുള്ള വെളുത്ത ചന്ദനം, കുങ്കുമവും ചുവന്ന സിന്ദൂരവും കൊണ്ട് (ദേവിയെ) ലേപനം ചെയ്യണം; കൂടാതെ കർപ്പൂരം, അഗരു, കസ്തൂരി കലർന്ന സുഗന്ധ അങ്കരാഗങ്ങളാലും.

Word by Word

• लेपयेत्: should anoint, should smear
• लेपयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (should anoint/smear)

• चन्दनैः: with sandalwood (paste)
• चन्दनैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• शुभ्रैः: white, bright
• शुभ्रैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• कुकुमैः: with saffron
• कुकुमैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुकुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सिन्दुरासकैः: with vermilion-red pigments
• सिन्दुरासकैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्दूर + आसक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सिन्दूर-आसकः = red dye/pigment like vermilion)

• कर्पूरागुरुकस्तूरीमिश्रितैः: mixed with camphor, agaru, and musk
• कर्पूरागुरुकस्तूरीमिश्रितैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्पूर + अगुरु + कस्तूरी + मिश्रित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन, तृतीया; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्पूर-अगुरु-कस्तूरीभिः मिश्रितैः)

• कर्दमैः: with pastes
• कर्दमैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; “paste/mud (cosmetic paste)”

• तथा: thus, also
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक/समुच्चयार्थक (thus/also)

Speaker

Unspecified narrator within Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa (deductively a Purāṇic teacher addressing a King)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Rājā (King)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Priests/devotees anoint the Devī image with white sandal paste, saffron and vermilion hues; bowls of camphor, agaru, and musk are mixed into fragrant unguents; the sanctum glows with lamp-light and incense haze.

Characters & Entities

• Śrīmātā
• Dharmaputrikā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Divine Mother is honored through refined offerings; fragrance and beauty become vehicles of devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The instruction belongs to Dharmāraṇya’s worship tradition rather than a separate tīrtha description.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Anoint with white sandal, saffron, vermilion, and perfumed pastes mixed with camphor, agaru, and musk.