Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

यद्यशक्तः स्वयं निःस्वो यथाविभवमर्चयेत् । भक्त्त्या दत्तेन गौरीशः पुष्पमात्रेण तुष्यति

Transliteration

yadyaśaktaḥ svayaṃ niḥsvo yathāvibhavamarcayet | bhakttyā dattena gaurīśaḥ puṣpamātreṇa tuṣyati

Translation

ଯଦି କେହି ଅଶକ୍ତ ଓ ନିଃସ୍ୱ ହୁଏ, ତେବେ ନିଜ ସାମର୍ଥ୍ୟ ଅନୁସାରେ ଅର୍ଚ୍ଚନା କରୁ। ଭକ୍ତିରେ ଦିଆଯାଇଥିବା ଏକମାତ୍ର ପୁଷ୍ପରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଗୌରୀଶ ପ୍ରସନ୍ନ ହୁଅନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conditional particle)

• अशक्तः: unable
• अशक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular (qualifying implied कर्ता: भक्तः)

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (reflexive adverb)

• निःस्वः: poor/destitute
• निःस्वः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular (qualifying implied कर्ता)

• यथा-विभवम्: according to one’s means
• यथा-विभवम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (यथाविभवम् = विभवानुसारम्), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; adverbial accusative

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should worship

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental singular

• दत्तेन: with what is given (offered)
• दत्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental singular (with what is given/offered)

• गौरीशः: Lord of Gaurī (Śiva)
• गौरीशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गौर्याः ईशः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• पुष्प-मात्रेण: with only a flower
• पुष्प-मात्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पुष्पस्य मात्रम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental singular

• तुष्यति: is satisfied/pleased
• तुष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; is pleased

Speaker

Unspecified (instructional narration within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A poor devotee in simple clothes offers a single flower at a Śiva-liṅga; Śiva’s compassionate presence is suggested by a gentle aura; no lavish items, only sincerity.

Characters & Entities

• Gaurīśa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

God values devotion, not expense—humble offerings made sincerely are spiritually complete.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is mentioned; the verse teaches universal devotional dharma.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Worship according to one’s capacity; even a single flower offered with bhakti is acceptable.