Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

कुलकोटिं समुद्धृत्य स्वेच्छया शिवलोकभाक् । चन्दनागुरुधूपैश्च सुश्वेतकुसुमैरपि

Transliteration

kulakoṭiṃ samuddhṛtya svecchayā śivalokabhāk | candanāgurudhūpaiśca suśvetakusumairapi

Translation

ചന്ദനം-അഗരു ധൂപവും ശുദ്ധമായ വെളുത്ത പുഷ്പങ്ങളും കൊണ്ട് പൂജിച്ചാൽ, സ്വഇച്ഛാബലത്തിൽ ശിവലോകം പ്രാപിച്ച് കുലത്തിലെ ഒരു കോടി പേരെ ഉയർത്തുന്നു.

Word by Word

• कुलकोटिम्: a crore of families
• कुलकोटिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कुलानां कोटिः = crore of families)

• समुद्धृत्य: having rescued
• समुद्धृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + उत् + धृ (धातु) + ल्यप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): 'having lifted/rescued'

• स्वेच्छया: by (one's) own will
• स्वेच्छया: Karana (Manner/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वा इच्छा)

• शिवलोकभाक्: attainer of Śiva's world
• शिवलोकभाक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिवलोक + भाज् (धातु) → भाक् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; 'भाक्' (भाज्-धातोः क्विप्/क्विन्-प्रत्ययान्त) = भागी/प्राप्तवान्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवलोकस्य भाक्)

• चन्दनागुरुधूपैः: with sandal, agaru, and incense
• चन्दनागुरुधूपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन + अगुरु + धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (चन्दनं च अगुरु च धूपाश्च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुश्वेतकुसुमैः: with very white flowers
• सुश्वेतकुसुमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + श्वेत + कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुश्वेतानि कुसुमानि)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

Speaker

Narrative voice (contextual Purāṇic narrator; likely Sūta-style narration within Nāgara Khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Amarakantaka (Narmadā-tīrtha)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee offers sandal paste, agaru incense smoke, and white blossoms to a Śiva-liṅga; behind, subtle ancestral silhouettes rise upward, symbolizing kula-uddhāra and ascent to Śiva’s realm.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva-pūjā performed with sincere intent is said to liberate one’s lineage and lead the devotee to Śiva’s abode.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The surrounding passage belongs to the Amarakantaka–Narmadā tīrtha glorification in Nāgara Khaṇḍa, Tīrthamāhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offering fragrant substances—sandalwood, agaru incense—and white flowers in Śiva worship.