Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

भवतां तीर्थराजानां महाराजस्त्वियं शुभा । द्वारका सेवनीया वै स्थीयतां स्वेच्छया बहिः

Transliteration

bhavatāṃ tīrtharājānāṃ mahārājastviyaṃ śubhā | dvārakā sevanīyā vai sthīyatāṃ svecchayā bahiḥ

Translation

يا ملوكَ التيِرثا! إن دواركا المباركة هذه هي الملكُ الأعلى عليكم. حقًّا إن دواركا جديرةٌ بالخدمة بخشوع؛ فامكثوا خارجَ (حرمها) بحسب مشيئتكم.

Word by Word

• भवताम्: of you (respected)
• भवताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; आदरार्थे (honorific)

• तीर्थराजानाम्: of the kings of tīrthas
• तीर्थराजानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तीर्थाणां राजा)

• महाराजः: the great king
• महाराजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् राजा)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुभा: auspicious
• शुभा: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• द्वारका: Dvārakā
• द्वारका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सेवनीया: should be served/visited
• सेवनीया: Vidhyartha (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् (धातु) → सेवनीय (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त—अनीयर्/तव्यत्-अर्थक (gerundive: 'to be served'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• स्थीयताम्: stay (please remain)
• स्थीयताम्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (let it be stayed/you should stay)

• स्वेच्छया: by your own will
• स्वेच्छया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य इच्छा)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Desha-adhikarana (Locative adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

Speaker

Maheśa (Śiva) (deduced from the next verse: “maheśavacanaṃ śrutvā…”)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Tīrtha-rājas (personified sacred fords/places)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A regal personification of Dvārakā as a queen-city, while assembled tīrthas are addressed as kings; a boundary line or outer precinct is indicated, suggesting respectful stationing outside the inner sanctum-city.

Characters & Entities

• Dvārakā
• Tīrthas (personified sacred fords)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the greatest tīrthas acknowledge a higher sanctity in Dvārakā; humility and reverent service to the dhāma is itself a form of dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā, praised as an auspicious supreme pilgrimage-dhāma within the Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa’s Dvārakā-māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Sevā (devotional service/attendance) to Dvārakā and residing respectfully “outside” her main precincts, implying regulated approach and reverence.