Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

समाप्ते च क्रतौ भूयो गंतारः स्वं निकेतनम् । युष्माभिर्भेदितं यस्मादेतत्पर्वतकन्दरम्

Transliteration

samāpte ca kratau bhūyo gaṃtāraḥ svaṃ niketanam | yuṣmābhirbheditaṃ yasmādetatparvatakandaram

Translation

আর যখন সেই ক্রতু (যজ্ঞ) সমাপ্ত হবে, তখন তোমরা আবার নিজেদের নিবাসে যাবে; কারণ এই পর্বতগুহা তোমরাই ভেদ করে পথগম্য করেছ।

Word by Word

• samāpte: when (it is) completed
• samāpte: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-āp (सम्+आप् धातु) → samāpta (कृदन्त/कृत)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (contextual; with kratau: पुंलिङ्गे), क्त (past passive participle) used as locative absolute with kratau

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

• kratau: in the sacrifice
• kratau: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhūyaḥ: again, thereafter
• bhūyaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय/तुलनाबोधक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• gaṃtāraḥ: goers, those who will go
• gaṃtāraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gam (गम् धातु) → gantṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun)

• svam: one’s own
• svam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); स्वकीय-विशेषण

• niketanam: abode, dwelling
• niketanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niketana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• yuṣmābhiḥ: by you (all)
• yuṣmābhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन (Plural), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• bheditam: split, broken open
• bheditam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhid (भिद् धातु) → bhedita (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); क्त (past passive participle)

• yasmāt: since, because
• yasmāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: हेतौ अव्ययीभावार्थे (causal sense ‘because/since’); मूलतः पञ्चमी-एकवचन रूपं, अव्ययवत् प्रयुक्तम्

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• parvata-kandaram: the mountain-cave
• parvata-kandaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक) + kandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (parvatasya kandaram)

Speaker

Devī

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: cave

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/assembly (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The cavern appears widened and luminous, as if newly opened; Devī indicates the path outward; Nāgas prepare to depart after the rite’s completion.

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Nāga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine protection is not only spiritual; it also orders safe passage and rightful return after danger has passed.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Arbuda mountain landscape—specifically a parvata-kandara (mountain cavern) tied to the Nāgas’ presence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No new ritual; it sets the sequence: remain protected until the kratu ends, then return.