Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

वापीकूपतडागानां जीर्णोद्धारमथापि वा । मूर्तिं विष्णोः प्रतिष्ठाप्य दत्त्वा वा भोगसाधनम्

Transliteration

vāpīkūpataḍāgānāṃ jīrṇoddhāramathāpi vā | mūrtiṃ viṣṇoḥ pratiṣṭhāpya dattvā vā bhogasādhanam

Translation

或修葺破旧之井、阶井（vāpī）与池塘；或安立供奉毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）圣像（pratiṣṭhā）；或布施供品与礼拜所需之资具——

Word by Word

• वापीकूपतडागानाम्: of stepwells, wells, and ponds
• वापीकूपतडागानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापी (प्रातिपदिक) + कूप (प्रातिपदिक) + तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (of wells, stepwells, and ponds)

• जीर्णोद्धारम्: renovation (of what is dilapidated)
• जीर्णोद्धारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; जीर्णस्य उद्धारः (repair/renovation)

• अथ: and/then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/also)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावनार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Discourse/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• मूर्तिम्: an image/form
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: having installed
• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + स्था (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund): प्रतिष्ठाप्य = having installed/established

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): having given

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Discourse/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• भोगसाधनम्: means of enjoyment/offerings
• भोगसाधनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; भोगस्य साधनम् (means for enjoyment/offerings)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Brāhmaṇas/pilgrims

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Donors and artisans repairing an ancient stepwell and pond; nearby, priests perform Viṣṇu-mūrti pratiṣṭhā with kalasha, lamps, and conch; offerings stores (bhoga-sādhana) are presented as endowment chests.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Dvārakā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Restoring public water resources and supporting Viṣṇu worship are highlighted as high-value acts of dharma, especially when linked to a sacred place.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā by context; the acts are framed as meritorious when performed there.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Jīrṇoddhāra (renovation) of vāpī/kūpa/taḍāga; Viṣṇu-mūrti pratiṣṭhā; and donating bhoga-sādhana (worship materials).