Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

धूपैर्बहुविधैर्देवं धूपयित्वा यथाविधि । वस्त्रैः संवेष्टयेत्पश्चाद्दद्यान्नैवेद्यमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

dhūpairbahuvidhairdevaṃ dhūpayitvā yathāvidhi | vastraiḥ saṃveṣṭayetpaścāddadyānnaivedyamuttamam

Translation

依仪轨以多种香熏供奉神尊之后，继而应以衣服披覆其身，并献上最上等的供食（naivedya）。

Word by Word

• धूपैः: with incense
• धूपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd); बहुवचन

• बहुविधैः: of many kinds
• बहुविधैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective) धूपैः; समासः—कर्मधारय (बहवः विधाः)

• देवम्: the god (deity)
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन

• धूपयित्वा: having fumigated/incensed
• धूपयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धूप् (धातु) → धूपय (णिच्) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• यथाविधि: according to the prescribed rule
• यथाविधि: Adverbial (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (according to rule)

• वस्त्रैः: with garments/cloths
• वस्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd); बहुवचन

• संवेष्टयेत्: should wrap/cover
• संवेष्टयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु) → सम् + वेष्टय (णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adverbial (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (afterwards)

• दद्यात्: should offer/give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नैवेद्यम्: food offering (naivedya)
• नैवेद्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent/best
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) नैवेद्यम्

Speaker

Sūta (deduced from section context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Somnātha at Prabhāsa

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Incense smoke curls in layered spirals before the Somnātha liṅga; attendants hold trays of varied dhūpa; a fresh cloth is ceremonially offered/draped; a silver plate of naivedya—fruits, sweets, cooked rice—rests before the deity as lamps flicker.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Orderly, respectful worship—honoring the deity with fragrance, dignity (clothing), and nourishment—cultivates reverence and merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsakṣetra, where such complete upacāra-pūjā is taught as especially fruitful.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offer various incenses, drape the deity with cloth, and give excellent naivedya.