Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

सुवर्णस्याकरः पूर्वं तत्स्थानमभवत्प्रिये । तस्मिन्स्थाने नरैर्देवि गन्तव्यं भूतिलिप्सया

Transliteration

suvarṇasyākaraḥ pūrvaṃ tatsthānamabhavatpriye | tasminsthāne narairdevi gantavyaṃ bhūtilipsayā

Translation

يا حبيبة، كان ذلك الموضع من قبلُ منجمًا للذهب. يا إلهة، ينبغي للناس أن يقصدوا ذلك المكان طلبًا للغنى والازدهار.

Word by Word

• suvarṇasya: of gold
• suvarṇasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ākaraḥ: a mine; source
• ākaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• pūrvam: formerly; earlier
• pūrvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (demonstrative)

• sthānam: place
• sthānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• abhavat: was; became
• abhavat: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• priye: O beloved
• priye: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (demonstrative)

• sthāne: place
• sthāne: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• naraiḥ: by men; by people
• naraiḥ: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• devi: O goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• gantavyam: is to be gone to; should be visited
• gantavyam: Kriyā (Obligation/विधेय-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय (predicative)

• bhūti-lipsayā: with desire for prosperity
• bhūti-lipsayā: Hetu (Cause/Motive/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūti (प्रातिपदिक) + lipsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (desire-of X), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Śiva (Īśvara)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Suvarṇākara-sthāna (within Dunnāville kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mahādevī (Pārvatī)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sacred ground with traces of an ancient mine—golden-hued earth and rocks—pilgrims approaching with offerings, while liṅgas and siddha-seats sanctify the landscape.

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Suvarṇa (gold)
• Ākara (mine)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic tīrthas are portrayed as benefactors of both dharma and well-being; prosperity is framed as something sought through sacred visitation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Dunnāville-region spot described as formerly a suvarṇākara (gold mine).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A pilgrimage instruction is given—people should visit the place—motivated here by the wish for bhūti (prosperity).