Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

ध्यानं च सात्त्विकं ज्ञेयं राजसं हि नृणामिव । शुद्धचामीकराभासं गजाननमलौकिकम्

Transliteration

dhyānaṃ ca sāttvikaṃ jñeyaṃ rājasaṃ hi nṛṇāmiva | śuddhacāmīkarābhāsaṃ gajānanamalaukikam

Translation

Meditasi hendaklah difahami sebagai sāttvika, dan juga rājasa—yang rājasa itu seperti pada manusia. Dalam renungan sāttvika, bayangkan Tuhan bermuka gajah, melampaui dunia, bersinar laksana emas murni.

Word by Word

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन

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

• सात्त्विकम्: sattvic (pure)
• सात्त्विकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ध्यानस्य)

• ज्ञेयम्: to be known/understood
• ज्ञेयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तव्यता/योग्यता-वाचक कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• राजसम्: rajasic (passionate)
• राजसम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ध्यानस्य)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• इव: like/as
• इव: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• शुद्धचामीकराभासम्: having the luster of pure gold
• शुद्धचामीकराभासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध-चामीकर-आभास (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गजाननम्)

• गजाननम्: the elephant-faced one (Gaṇeśa)
• गजाननम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज-आनन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अलौकिकम्: supernatural, not worldly
• अलौकिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गजाननम्)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrim/adhikārin addressed as ‘bhavadbhiḥ’ in surrounding context

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gaṇeśa envisioned as alaukika and radiant like refined gold; the scene emphasizes luminous aura rather than narrative action.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇeśa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dhyāna varies by guṇa; the sāttvika form is luminous and elevating, guiding the worshipper toward purity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra region is the broader backdrop; this verse teaches guṇa-based meditation rather than praising a specific tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Choose and perform sāttvika (golden, transcendent) contemplation of Gaṇeśa; rājasa contemplation is also acknowledged.