Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

लेपयेच्चंदनैः शुभ्रैः कुकुमैः सिंदुरासकैः । कर्पूरागुरुकस्तूरीमिश्रितैः कर्द्दमैस्तथा

Transliteration

lepayeccaṃdanaiḥ śubhraiḥ kukumaiḥ siṃdurāsakaiḥ | karpūrāgurukastūrīmiśritaiḥ karddamaistathā

Translation

(دیوی کو) روشن سفید چندن کے مبارک لیپ، زعفران اور سرخ سندور سے مَلے؛ اور اسی طرح کافور، اگرو اور کستوری سے ملے ہوئے خوشبودار لیپ بھی لگائے۔

Word by Word

• लेपयेत्: should anoint, should smear
• लेपयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (should anoint/smear)

• चन्दनैः: with sandalwood (paste)
• चन्दनैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• शुभ्रैः: white, bright
• शुभ्रैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• कुकुमैः: with saffron
• कुकुमैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुकुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सिन्दुरासकैः: with vermilion-red pigments
• सिन्दुरासकैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्दूर + आसक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सिन्दूर-आसकः = red dye/pigment like vermilion)

• कर्पूरागुरुकस्तूरीमिश्रितैः: mixed with camphor, agaru, and musk
• कर्पूरागुरुकस्तूरीमिश्रितैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्पूर + अगुरु + कस्तूरी + मिश्रित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन, तृतीया; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्पूर-अगुरु-कस्तूरीभिः मिश्रितैः)

• कर्दमैः: with pastes
• कर्दमैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; “paste/mud (cosmetic paste)”

• तथा: thus, also
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक/समुच्चयार्थक (thus/also)

Speaker

Unspecified narrator within Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa (deductively a Purāṇic teacher addressing a King)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Rājā (King)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Priests/devotees anoint the Devī image with white sandal paste, saffron and vermilion hues; bowls of camphor, agaru, and musk are mixed into fragrant unguents; the sanctum glows with lamp-light and incense haze.

Characters & Entities

• Śrīmātā
• Dharmaputrikā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Divine Mother is honored through refined offerings; fragrance and beauty become vehicles of devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The instruction belongs to Dharmāraṇya’s worship tradition rather than a separate tīrtha description.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Anoint with white sandal, saffron, vermilion, and perfumed pastes mixed with camphor, agaru, and musk.