Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

होमेन चाक्षयः स्वर्गो जपादायुर्विवर्धते । ध्यानतो नित्यमायाति पदं शिवकलात्मकम्

Transliteration

homena cākṣayaḥ svargo japādāyurvivardhate | dhyānato nityamāyāti padaṃ śivakalātmakam

Translation

ହୋମ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଅକ୍ଷୟ ସ୍ୱର୍ଗ ଲଭ୍ୟ ହୁଏ, ଜପ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଆୟୁ ବୃଦ୍ଧି ପାଏ; ଧ୍ୟାନ ଦ୍ୱାରା ନିତ୍ୟ ଶିବକଲାମୟ ପରମ ପଦ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• होमेन: by (the act of) oblation
• होमेन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

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

• अक्षयः: imperishable
• अक्षयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular; agreeing with ‘स्वर्गः’

• स्वर्गः: heaven
• स्वर्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• जपात्: from/through recitation
• जपात्: Apadana (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; Ablative singular (cause/source)

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• विवर्धते: increases
• विवर्धते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘increases’

• ध्यानतः: from/through meditation
• ध्यानतः: Apadana (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; Ablative singular (from/through meditation)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• आयाति: attains/comes
• आयाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘comes/attains’

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• शिव-कलात्मकम्: consisting of Śiva’s energies/parts
• शिव-कलात्मकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + कला (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य कलाः = शिवकलाः; तदात्मकम्); agreeing with ‘पदम्’

Speaker

Narrator

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Triptych-like depiction: (1) a homa-kuṇḍa with flames and offerings, (2) a devotee with mālā performing japa, (3) a yogin in meditation with a subtle Śiva aura (crescent moon, gaṅgā, trident) radiating as Śiva-kalā.

Characters & Entities

• Homa
• Japa
• Dhyāna
• Śiva
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic dharma integrates outer rite (homa), mantra discipline (japa), and inner realization (dhyāna), culminating in Śiva-oriented attainment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse occurs within the Kāverī-saṅgama māhātmya passage, framing these practices as especially fruitful in that sacred setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Homa for akṣaya-svarga, japa for āyuḥ-vṛddhi, and dhyāna for attaining the śiva-kalātmaka state.