Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 128

Devanagari script

प्रसादयामास स तं गौरवात्परमेष्ठिनः । तेऽदृश्यं नैव जानंति रुद्रं तत्रागतं सुराः

Transliteration

prasādayāmāsa sa taṃ gauravātparameṣṭhinaḥ | te'dṛśyaṃ naiva jānaṃti rudraṃ tatrāgataṃ surāḥ

Translation

ومن توقيرٍ للربّ الأعلى (براهما) سعى إلى استرضائه وتهدئته؛ أمّا الآلهة هناك فلم يعرفوا رُدرا الذي أتى، إذ كان مستترًا غير مرئيّ.

Word by Word

• प्रसादयामास: appeased, propitiated
• प्रसादयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√सद् (धातु √सद्) causative प्रसादयति
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन = Perfect, 3rd person singular; causative stem

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन = Masculine, Nominative, Singular (pronoun)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन = Masculine, Accusative, Singular (pronoun)

• गौरवात्: out of respect
• गौरवात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन = Ablative Singular; हेत्वर्थे (because of)

• परमेष्ठिनः: of the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin/Brahmā)
• परमेष्ठिनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन = Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन = Masculine, Nominative, Plural (pronoun)

• अदृश्यम्: the invisible (one/state)
• अदृश्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदृश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन = Neuter, Accusative, Singular; कर्मरूपेण (object)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध) = negation particle

• एव: indeed, at all
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण) = emphatic particle

• जानन्ति: know
• जानन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु √ज्ञा)
• Form: लट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन = Present, 3rd person plural (active)

• रुद्रम्: Rudra (Śiva)
• रुद्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन = Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक) = locative adverb

• आगतम्: having come, arrived
• आगतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु √गम्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन = past participle, Masculine Accusative Singular (agreeing with रुद्रम्)

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन = Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator within Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa context; likely Sūta)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā (or the mediator figure) stands in reverent posture, hands joined, addressing a fierce presence that is suggested only by aura—flames, trident-shadow, or a void-like silhouette—while surrounding devas look confused, scanning the space.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Parameṣṭhin)
• Rudra (Śiva)
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Divine may be present yet unseen; humility and reverence are required to recognize higher realities.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra’s Vastrāpathakṣetra is the setting for this episode.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None is stated directly; the verse underscores devotional attitude and divine presence.