Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 164

Devanagari script

अर्कस्थलः पूजनीयस्तत्र स्थाने निवासिभिः । जपापुष्पैरर्कपुष्पै रोगिभिस्तु विशेषतः

Transliteration

arkasthalaḥ pūjanīyastatra sthāne nivāsibhiḥ | japāpuṣpairarkapuṣpai rogibhistu viśeṣataḥ

Translation

ആ പ്രദേശത്ത് വസിക്കുന്നവർ അർക്കസ്ഥലം പൂജിക്കണം—ജപാ (ചെമ്പരത്തി) പുഷ്പങ്ങളും അർക്കപുഷ്പങ്ങളും കൊണ്ട്; പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് രോഗികൾ വിശേഷമായി പൂജിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• अर्कस्थलः: the Arka-place (arkasthala)
• अर्कस्थलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क + स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पूजनीयः: worthy to be worshipped
• पूजनीयः: Karta-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + अनीयर् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (अनीयर्-प्रत्यय, gerundive/‘to be worshipped’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• स्थाने: in the place
• स्थाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• निवासिभिः: by the residents
• निवासिभिः: Kartr̥/Agent-instrument (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• जपापुष्पैः: with japa-flowers (hibiscus)
• जपापुष्पैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जपा + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• अर्कपुष्पैः: with arka-flowers
• अर्कपुष्पैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• रोगिभिः: by the sick (people)
• रोगिभिः: Kartr̥/Agent-instrument (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/especially
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle; emphasis/contrast)

• विशेषतः: particularly
• विशेषतः: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual narrator in Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Arkasthala

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At Arkasthala, locals bring hibiscus and arka flowers; a sick devotee sits supported by family while a priest offers flowers and arghya to Sūrya, suggesting healing grace.

Characters & Entities

• Arkasthala
• Japa (hibiscus)
• Arka flower
• Rogin (the sick)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Right offerings and devoted worship at a sacred site are emphasized, with compassionate focus on relief for the afflicted.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Arkasthala within Prabhāsakṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pūjā at Arkasthala using japa (hibiscus) flowers and arka flowers; recommended particularly for those suffering illness.