Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

वृषभस्तत्र दातव्यो वृषभध्वज संनिधौ । सर्वपातकनाशार्थं सम्यग्यात्राफलेप्सुभिः

Transliteration

vṛṣabhastatra dātavyo vṛṣabhadhvaja saṃnidhau | sarvapātakanāśārthaṃ samyagyātrāphalepsubhiḥ

Translation

বৃষভধ্বজ (শিব)-এর সান্নিধ্যে সেখানে বৃষভ দান করা উচিত—যাঁরা তীর্থযাত্রার পূর্ণ ফল চান—সকল পাপ বিনাশের জন্য।

Word by Word

• वृषभः: a bull
• वृषभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• दातव्यः: should be given
• दातव्यः: Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'to be given/should be given'

• वृषभध्वज: O Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• वृषभध्वज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ-ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वृषभः ध्वजः यस्य)

• संनिधौ: in the presence
• संनिधौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संनिधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सर्वपातकनाशार्थम्: for the destruction of all sins
• सर्वपातकनाशार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-पातक-नाश-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां पातकानां नाशस्य अर्थम्)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: properly)

• यात्राफलेप्सुभिः: by those desiring the fruit of the pilgrimage
• यात्राफलेप्सुभिः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा-फल-इप्सु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (यात्रायाः फलम्; तत् इच्छन्ति इति इप्सवः)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic voice within Prabhāsakṣetramāhātmya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (Vṛṣabhadhvaja-sannidhi)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim offers a decorated bull (vṛṣabha) as dāna near a Śiva shrine; priests and recipients stand respectfully; Śiva’s banner with bull emblem signifies Vṛṣabhadhvaja; the act is shown as washing away dark ‘pāpa’ clouds.

Characters & Entities

• Vṛṣabhadhvaja
• Śiva
• Dāna
• Prabhāsa-kṣetra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Pilgrimage is perfected by dharma—especially charity offered in the deity’s presence for inner purification.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, specifically near Vṛṣabhadhvajeśvara.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vṛṣabha-dāna (donation of a bull) in the presence of Vṛṣabhadhvaja (Śiva) to destroy sins and complete pilgrimage merit.