Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 188

Devanagari script

यतित्रयं तथाऽतोद्यं नाट्यं चैव चतुर्विधम् । ननृतुर्जगतामीशे लिख्यमाने विभावसौ

Transliteration

yatitrayaṃ tathā'todyaṃ nāṭyaṃ caiva caturvidham | nanṛturjagatāmīśe likhyamāne vibhāvasau

Translation

وباليَتي الثلاثة، ومع العزف بالآلات، وبفنّ النَّاطْيَا ذي الأقسام الأربعة، رقصنَ أمام ربّ العوالم، بينما كان فيبهافاسو (إله النار) ينظر كأنّه يدوّن المشهد.

Word by Word

• यति-त्रयम्: the three yatis (rhythmic patterns)
• यति-त्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगुः (‘त्रयः यतयः/यतयः’—संगीत-यतयः)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (in like manner/also)

• आतोद्यम्: instrumental music
• आतोद्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतोद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• नाट्यम्: dance/drama
• नाट्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाट्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (indeed/just)

• चतुर्विधम्: fourfold
• चतुर्विधम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणं नाट्यम् प्रति

• ननृतुः: they danced
• ननृतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• जगताम्: of the worlds/of beings
• जगताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• ईशे: in/for the Lord
• ईशे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘ईश’—Lord

• लिख्यमाने: while (it was) being written
• लिख्यमाने: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिख् (धातु) → लिख्यमान (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्) कर्मणि—‘being written/inscribed’ (locative absolute with विभावसौ)

• विभावसौ: when Vibhāvasu (Agni) (was present)
• विभावसौ: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभावसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘विभावसु’ = अग्नि/सूर्य; यहाँ—अग्नौ (locative absolute)

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva) (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A divine sabhā at Prabhāsa: devotees/attendants perform dance with three yatis and instrumental ensemble before Jagadīśa; Vibhāvasu (Agni) stands as luminous witness, as if inscribing the spectacle in firelight.

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara (Śiva)
• Jagadīśa (Lord of worlds)
• Vibhāvasu (Agni)
• Apsarases
• Gandharvas
• Ravi (Sūrya)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Worship is multi-dimensional—song, instruments, and drama converge as offerings before the Lord, sanctifying the space and the participants.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, within whose māhātmya this grand celestial performance is narrated.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit prescription; the verse describes devotional nāṭya and musical accompaniment as celebratory worship.