Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

जपहोमपराश्चान्ये ध्यानासक्तास्तथा परे । बलिनैवद्यदानैश्च गंधधूपैर्नराधिप

Transliteration

japahomaparāścānye dhyānāsaktāstathā pare | balinaivadyadānaiśca gaṃdhadhūpairnarādhipa

Translation

ചിലർ ജപവും ഹോമവും അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുന്നതിൽ തത്പരരായിരുന്നു; മറ്റുചിലർ ധ്യാനത്തിൽ ആസക്തരായിരുന്നു. ഹേ നരാധിപാ! അവർ ബലി, നൈവേദ്യം, ദാനം, സുഗന്ധം, ധൂപം എന്നിവകൊണ്ട് ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ ആരാധിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• जपहोमपराः: devoted to japa and homa
• जपहोमपराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप-होम-पर (प्रातिपदिक; जप + होम + पर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘जपे होमे च पराः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘others’

• ध्यानासक्ताः: attached to meditation
• ध्यानासक्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान-आसक्त (प्रातिपदिक; ध्यान + आसक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ध्यानं प्रति आसक्ताः

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: in that manner/likewise)

• परे: others
• परे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• बलि: with offerings (bali)
• बलि: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (समाहारद्वन्द्वे समुच्चय); साधन/हेतु-निर्देश

• नैवेद्य: with food-offerings
• नैवेद्य: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• दानैः: with gifts
• दानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गन्धधूपैः: with perfumes and incense
• गन्धधूपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध-धूप (प्रातिपदिक; गन्ध + धूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; इतरेतरद्वन्द्व

• नराधिप: O king
• नराधिप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-अधिप (प्रातिपदिक; नर + अधिप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (addressing the listener as narādhipa, ‘O king’)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Arbuda-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Narādhipa (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An altar scene: ascetics and devotees performing homa with ladles, others counting japa beads, some seated in meditation; offerings of bali and naivedya arranged; incense smoke curling; fragrant flowers and perfumes presented; a king addressed respectfully in the background.

Characters & Entities

• Devī (implied worship)
• japa
• homa
• naivedya
• dāna

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic worship integrates inner practice (dhyāna, japa) with outer service (homa, offerings, charity).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Arbuda sacred milieu where such worship and austerity are narrated as potent.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Japa, homa, bali, naivedya, dāna, and offering gandha (perfume) and dhūpa (incense).