Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 102

Devanagari script

मधूदकं फलं मूलमेधांस्यभयदक्षिणा । अभ्युद्यतानि ग्राह्याणि त्वेतान्यपि निकृष्टतः

Transliteration

madhūdakaṃ phalaṃ mūlamedhāṃsyabhayadakṣiṇā | abhyudyatāni grāhyāṇi tvetānyapi nikṛṣṭataḥ

Translation

मधु-जल, फळ, मूळ, इंधनकाष्ठ आणि ‘अभय-दक्षिणा’ (रक्षण/आश्वासनरूप दक्षिणा)—हेही पुढे करून अर्पण केले असता ग्रहण करण्यास योग्य; तरी दानांमध्ये यांना कनिष्ठ मानले आहे.

Word by Word

• मधूदकम्: honey-water
• मधूदकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मधुनः उदकम्)

• फलम्: fruit
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मूलम्: root (edible root)
• मूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एधांसि: firewood
• एधांसि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; ‘fuel sticks’

• अभयदक्षिणाः: fearlessness as a gift (dakṣiṇā)
• अभयदक्षिणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (अभया एव दक्षिणाः)

• अभ्युद्यतानि: offered; held out
• अभ्युद्यतानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि (उपसर्ग) + उद् (उपसर्ग) + यम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘raised/held out (for giving)’

• ग्राह्याणि: acceptable
• ग्राह्याणि: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicative qualifier/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + ण्यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य (ण्यत्) कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘to be accepted’

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; निर्देशक सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also/even)

• निकृष्टतः: even from an inferior (person/source)
• निकृष्टतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निकृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); ‘from a low/mean (source)’

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A humble donor offers honey-water in a small vessel, fruits and roots in a basket, and a bundle of firewood; beside them a protector figure (king/guard) grants ‘abhaya’ with raised palm gesture; the recipient accepts kindly, indicating even ‘lower-grade’ gifts are welcome when sincere.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even simple offerings have dharmic value when sincerely presented, though traditions may rank gifts by excellence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse gives general dharma guidance suitable for sacred communities.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Items like honey-water, fruits, roots, and firewood are permitted to be accepted when offered, though considered lesser gifts.