Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

धूपैः समावृतं सर्वमाज्यगंधिभिरर्चितम् । शोभितं मुनिभिर्दिव्यैश्चातुर्वेद्यैर्द्विजोत्तमैः

Transliteration

dhūpaiḥ samāvṛtaṃ sarvamājyagaṃdhibhirarcitam | śobhitaṃ munibhirdivyaiścāturvedyairdvijottamaiḥ

Translation

എല്ലാം ധൂപത്താൽ മൂടപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു, ആജ്യത്തിന്റെ സുഗന്ധത്തോടെ അർച്ചിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു; ദിവ്യ മുനിമാർ—ചതുര്‍വേദജ്ഞരായ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ദ്വിജർ—അതിനോട് ശോഭ കൂട്ടി.

Word by Word

• धूपैः: with incense
• धूपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• समावृतम्: covered, enveloped
• समावृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ√वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (covered/enveloped)

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-प्रयोग (pronominal adjective)

• आज्यगंधिभिः: with ghee-scented (offerings/incense)
• आज्यगंधिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘गन्धिन्’ = ‘सुगन्धयुक्त’; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आज्यस्य गन्धः येषां तैः)

• अर्चितम्: worshipped, honored
• अर्चितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (worshipped/adorned)

• शोभितम्: adorned, made splendid
• शोभितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (beautified)

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• दिव्यैः: divine, splendid
• दिव्यैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying मुनिभिः/चातुर्वेद्यैः)

• चातुर्वेद्यैः: by knowers of the four Vedas
• चातुर्वेद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चातुर्वेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (चतुर्णां वेदानां वेत्ता)

• द्विजोत्तमैः: by the best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजोत्तमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमाः द्विजाः)

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ṛṣitoyā-taṭa yajña-sthala (within Prabhāsa)

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dense, fragrant yajña pavilion: incense smoke veils the scene; ghee vessels gleam; cāturvedin brāhmaṇas sit in orderly rows; the whole space shines with ritual cleanliness and learned presence.

Characters & Entities

• Incense (Dhūpa)
• Ghee (Ājya)
• Munis
• Cāturvedyas (knowers of four Vedas)
• Dvijottamas
• Prabhāsa-kṣetra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Outer purity of worship (incense, ghee offerings) mirrors inner purity; sacred places are beautified by learned and disciplined practitioners.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The yajña-region in Prabhāsa-kṣetra, described as sanctified by incense, offerings, and Veda-knowing sages.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Use of dhūpa (incense) and ājya (ghee) in worship/offerings is indicated as part of the sacrificial-liturgical environment.