Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 86

Devanagari script

सकर्पूरं च तांबूलं पुष्पदानं तथैव च । जलपात्राण्यनेकानि तथा पुष्प गृहाणि च

Transliteration

sakarpūraṃ ca tāṃbūlaṃ puṣpadānaṃ tathaiva ca | jalapātrāṇyanekāni tathā puṣpa gṛhāṇi ca

Translation

கற்பூரம் கலந்த தாம்பூலம் தானமாக அளிக்க வேண்டும்; அதுபோல மலர் தானமும் செய்ய வேண்டும். பல நீர்ப் பாத்திரங்களும், மலர்க் கூடங்கள்/மலர் வைக்கும் இடங்களும் தானமாக அளிக்கத் தக்கவை।

Word by Word

• sakarpūram: with camphor
• sakarpūram: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa- (उपसर्ग/सह) + karpūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सह-कार्पूरेण (with camphor)

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

• tāṃbūlam: betel
• tāṃbūlam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāṃbūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (betel)

• puṣpadānam: offering of flowers
• puṣpadānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; पुष्पस्य दानम् (gift of flowers)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (likewise/also)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

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

• jalapātrāṇi: water vessels
• jalapātrāṇi: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; जलस्य पात्राणि (water-vessels)

• anekāni: many
• anekāni: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (many)

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थे (also)

• puṣpa: flower
• puṣpa: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासपूर्वपदम् (flower)

• gṛhāṇi: receptacles/arrangements (for flowers)
• gṛhāṇi: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (houses/containers; here: receptacles/arrangements)

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

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (temple service context)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Temple courtyard with heaps of marigolds and lotuses; devotees offering tāmbūla with camphor; rows of brass/earthen water pots; a small ‘flower-house’ pavilion where garlands are stored and prepared.

Characters & Entities

• Karpūra
• Tāmbūla
• Puṣpa
• Jala-pātra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Supporting worship through fragrant, pure offerings and practical supplies is a valued form of bhakti and dāna.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader teaching belongs to the Kāśī Khaṇḍa tradition; the verse focuses on worship-supporting gifts rather than naming a single tirtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Donate camphor-betel, flowers, multiple water vessels, and facilities/stands for flower offerings.