Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 134

Devanagari script

पिधाय बुद्ध्या द्वाराणि मनो ध्याने निवेशयेत् । आहारं सात्त्विकं सेवेन्न तं येन विचेतनः

Transliteration

pidhāya buddhyā dvārāṇi mano dhyāne niveśayet | āhāraṃ sāttvikaṃ sevenna taṃ yena vicetanaḥ

Translation

വിവേകത്തോടെ ഇന്ദ്രിയദ്വാരങ്ങൾ അടച്ച് മനസ്സിനെ ധ്യാനത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിക്കണം. സാത്ത്വിക ആഹാരമേ സ്വീകരിക്കണം; ചിത്തം മന്ദമായി അചേതനമാകുന്ന ആഹാരം ഒരിക്കലും കഴിക്കരുത്।

Word by Word

• पिधाय: having closed
• पिधाय: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier of action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), पि-धा धातोः; ‘having closed/shut’ (absolutive/gerund)

• बुद्ध्या: by (one’s) intellect
• बुद्ध्या: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by/with the intellect’

• द्वाराणि: doors (senses’ gates)
• द्वाराणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; object ‘doors/gates’

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘mind’ as object

• ध्याने: in meditation
• ध्याने: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative ‘in meditation’

• निवेशयेत्: should fix/settle (it)
• निवेशयेत्: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘should place/settle’

• आहारम्: food
• आहारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘food/diet’ as object

• सात्त्विकम्: sattvic, pure
• सात्त्विकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् of ‘आहारम्’

• सेवेत्: should consume/practice
• सेवेत्: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should partake/serve/use’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun ‘that (food)’

• येन: by which
• येन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; relative pronoun ‘by which’

• विचेतनः: becomes senseless
• विचेतनः: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-चेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; predicate adjective ‘unconscious/insentient’ (for a person)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An ascetic seated in padmāsana, eyes half-closed, with symbolic ‘doors’ (the senses) gently shut by the light of buddhi; simple sāttvika meal placed aside; aura of calm restraint.

Characters & Entities

• dhyāna

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Meditation requires guarding the senses and supporting clarity through sāttvika diet; dulling foods undermine spiritual practice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse teaches yogic method and lifestyle.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Practical prescriptions are given: restrain sense-gates, fix the mind in dhyāna, and follow sāttvika dietary discipline.