Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 129

Devanagari script

पुष्पाणां प्रवरा जाती धूपानां विजयः परः । गन्धानां कुंकुमं श्रेष्ठं लेपानां रक्तचंदनम्

Transliteration

puṣpāṇāṃ pravarā jātī dhūpānāṃ vijayaḥ paraḥ | gandhānāṃ kuṃkumaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ lepānāṃ raktacaṃdanam

Translation

ในหมู่ดอกไม้ ‘ชาติ’ คือมะลิเป็นยอด; ในหมู่ธูป ‘วิชัย’ ประเสริฐสุด. ในหมู่กลิ่นหอม กุṅกุมะ (หญ้าฝรั่น) เลิศที่สุด; และในหมู่เครื่องทา ไม้จันทน์แดงยอดเยี่ยม.

Word by Word

• पुष्पाणाम्: of flowers
• पुष्पाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• प्रवरा: best
• प्रवरा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—जाती

• जाती: jasmine (jātī)
• जाती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धूपानाम्: of incenses
• धूपानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विजयः: vijaya (a kind of incense)
• विजयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परः: excellent / supreme
• परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—विजयः

• गन्धानाम्: of fragrances
• गन्धानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कुंकुमम्: saffron
• कुंकुमम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रेष्ठम्: best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—कुंकुमम्

• लेपानाम्: of unguents/pastes
• लेपानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• रक्तचंदनम्: red sandalwood
• रक्तचंदनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—रक्तं चन्दनम् (कर्मधारय)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Not specified in excerpt.

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pūjā tray is arranged with jasmine garlands, a special incense labeled ‘Vijaya’, saffron fragrance, and red sandal paste; priests and pilgrims prepare offerings before the sanctum.

Characters & Entities

• jātī
• dhūpa (vijaya)
• kuṃkuma
• raktacandana
• Ravi (Sūrya) (context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The māhātmya teaches excellence in worship: offering the finest, purest upacāras is a form of honor to the deity and the sacred place.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, as the setting where these ideal offerings are recommended.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Selecting specific superior upacāras—jasmine flowers, Vijaya incense, saffron fragrance, and red sandal paste.