Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

पापक्षयोऽभिषेकेण साम्राज्यं पीठपूजनात् । सौभाग्यमखिलं सौख्यं गंधमाल्याक्षतार्पणात्

Transliteration

pāpakṣayo'bhiṣekeṇa sāmrājyaṃ pīṭhapūjanāt | saubhāgyamakhilaṃ saukhyaṃ gaṃdhamālyākṣatārpaṇāt

Translation

由灌顶沐浴（abhiṣeka）而罪垢消除；由礼敬坛座（pīṭha）而得王权。由奉献香气、花鬘与不碎净米（akṣata），则吉祥与一切安乐随之而生。

Word by Word

• पापक्षयः: destruction of sins
• पापक्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप-क्षय (प्रातिपदिक; पाप + क्षय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभिषेकेण: by (means of) anointing/ablution
• अभिषेकेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• साम्राज्यम्: sovereignty, kingship
• साम्राज्यम्: Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम्राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (फलरूपेण)

• पीठपूजनात्: from worship of the pedestal/seat
• पीठपूजनात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ-पूजन (प्रातिपदिक; पीठ + पूजन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान/हेतुवाचक (from/through)

• सौभाग्यम्: good fortune
• सौभाग्यम्: Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अखिलम्: entire, complete
• अखिलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सौभाग्यम्/सौख्यम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• सौख्यम्: happiness, comfort
• सौख्यम्: Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गन्धमाल्याक्षतार्पणात्: from offering fragrance, garlands, and unbroken rice
• गन्धमाल्याक्षतार्पणात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध-माल्य-अक्षत-अर्पण (प्रातिपदिक; गन्ध + माल्य + अक्षत + अर्पण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative)

Speaker

Unspecified in snippet (didactic narrator within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Priest/devotee performs abhiṣeka over a Śiva-liṅga; the pīṭha is decorated; offerings of sandal paste, garlands, and akṣata are arranged in neat bowls.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic worship links specific offerings to specific fruits, teaching that devotion expressed through ordered rites purifies and uplifts life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse presents general pūjā-phala (merit results) for Śiva-worship practices.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Abhiṣeka, pīṭha-pūjā, and offering gandha (fragrance), mālya (flowers/garlands), and akṣata (unbroken grains).