Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 82

Devanagari script

वस्त्राणि च विचित्राणि गंधमाल्यानुलेपनैः । देववत्पूजनं कृत्वा गां च दद्यात्पयस्विनीम्

Transliteration

vastrāṇi ca vicitrāṇi gaṃdhamālyānulepanaiḥ | devavatpūjanaṃ kṛtvā gāṃ ca dadyātpayasvinīm

Translation

ବିଚିତ୍ର ବସ୍ତ୍ର, ଗନ୍ଧ, ମାଳା ଓ ଅନୁଲେପନ ଅର୍ପଣ କରି, ଦେବତାଙ୍କ ପରି ପୂଜା ସମ୍ପନ୍ନ କରି, ପୟସ୍ୱିନୀ (ଦୁଧ ଦେଉଥିବା) ଗାଈକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦାନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• वस्त्राणि: clothes
• वस्त्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• विचित्राणि: variegated, fine
• विचित्राणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (वस्त्राणि)

• गन्धमाल्यानुलेपनैः: with perfumes, garlands, and unguents
• गन्धमाल्यानुलेपनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha + mālya + anulepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्व-समासः (गन्धाः, माल्यानि, अनुलेपनानि च)

• देववत्: as (one would) a deity
• देववत्: Manner (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: devavat (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: like a god)

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive): having done

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• पयस्विनीम्: milk-yielding
• पयस्विनीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: payasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (गाम्)

Speaker

Vyāsa

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: rājan (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A richly adorned altar where the Purāṇa is worshiped like a deity with sandal paste, garlands, and incense; outside, a gentle, well-kept cow with calf is ceremonially gifted, with water-pot and kusha for sankalpa.

Characters & Entities

• go-dāna (cow donation)
• pūjā as deva-vat

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The sacred narrative is honored as divine presence; charity—especially go-dāna—embodies compassion and sustains dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse functions as completion-rite guidance within the Dharmāraṇya māhātmya framework.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform deva-like worship with garments, fragrance, garlands, and unguents, and donate a milk-giving cow.