Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

अतः पूज्यास्तु ते विप्रा अलाभे प्रतिमादयः

Transliteration

ataḥ pūjyāstu te viprā alābhe pratimādayaḥ

Translation

لذلك فإنّ أولئك البراهمة جديرون بالعبادة والتبجيل حقًّا؛ فإذا لم يتيسّر وجودهم قامت التماثيل المقدّسة وما شابهها مقامهم.

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (Logical connector/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक अव्यय (therefore/from this)

• पूज्याः: worthy of worship
• पूज्याः: Karta (Subject complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + यत् (प्रत्यय) → पूज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/यत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘विप्राः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/पुनः/विरोधे (but/indeed)

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• विप्राः: Brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• अलाभे: in the absence (of gain)
• अलाभे: Adhikarana (Condition locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; अर्थे—अप्राप्तौ (in the absence/non-attainment)

• प्रतिमादयः: images and the like
• प्रतिमादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा + आदि (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—प्रतिमा-आदि (तत्पुरुष/समाहारार्थे ‘and the like’)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the assembled sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: null

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two-part composition: (1) pilgrims worship and offer gifts to a seated brahmana; (2) in his absence, they worship a temple image/linga with lamps and flowers—showing continuity of devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)
• Pratimā (icon/image)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Living embodiments of dharma (worthy persons) are prioritized for honor; substitutes are secondary when necessary.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where right worship is framed as right conduct toward the dharmic community.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pūjā of Brāhmaṇas is recommended; if unavailable, pratimā (icons) and similar objects are to be worshipped.