Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

भीताभय प्रदानेन पुत्रानिष्टान्न संशयः । धनकामस्तु विपुलं लभते धनमूर्जितम्

Transliteration

bhītābhaya pradānena putrāniṣṭānna saṃśayaḥ | dhanakāmastu vipulaṃ labhate dhanamūrjitam

Translation

Durch das Schenken von Furchtlosigkeit an den Furchtsamen erlangt man gewiss würdige Söhne—ohne Zweifel. Und wer nach Reichtum verlangt, gewinnt überreiche, gefestigte Wohlfahrt.

Word by Word

• भीताभय: fearlessness (for the frightened)
• भीताभय: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीत-अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; भीतानाम् अभयम् इति कर्मधारय-भावः, ‘प्रदानेन’ इत्यस्य सम्बन्धे

• प्रदानेन: by giving
• प्रदानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• इष्टान्: desired
• इष्टान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √इष् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘पुत्रान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

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

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धनकामः: one desiring wealth
• धनकामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन-काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; धनस्य कामः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• विपुलम्: abundant
• विपुलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘धनम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ऊर्जितम्: strengthened/augmented
• ऊर्जितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ऊर्ज्/ऊर्जय् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘धनम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Śrī Prahlāda (contextual attribution: Dvārakā Māhātmya narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā (Gomatī context implied)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee calms and protects frightened people/animals; in the background, Dvārakā’s temple and prosperous household imagery (children, granary, coins) symbolizing dharma-born prosperity.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Compassionate protection—granting fearlessness—is praised as a high form of dāna that yields both worldly welfare and dharmic merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Within Dvārakā Māhātmya, the broader context is the sanctity of Dvārakā and its associated sacred waters, especially the Gomātī region.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Abhaya-dāna—helping the fearful and ensuring their safety—is presented as a meritorious act producing concrete fruits.