Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

अतः पूज्यास्तु ते विप्रा अलाभे प्रतिमादयः

Transliteration

ataḥ pūjyāstu te viprā alābhe pratimādayaḥ

Translation

Darum sind jene Brāhmaṇas wahrlich zu verehren; sind sie nicht verfügbar, so dienen Bildnisse und dergleichen als Ersatz.

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (Logical connector/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक अव्यय (therefore/from this)

• पूज्याः: worthy of worship
• पूज्याः: Karta (Subject complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + यत् (प्रत्यय) → पूज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/यत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘विप्राः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/पुनः/विरोधे (but/indeed)

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• विप्राः: Brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• अलाभे: in the absence (of gain)
• अलाभे: Adhikarana (Condition locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; अर्थे—अप्राप्तौ (in the absence/non-attainment)

• प्रतिमादयः: images and the like
• प्रतिमादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा + आदि (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—प्रतिमा-आदि (तत्पुरुष/समाहारार्थे ‘and the like’)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the assembled sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: null

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two-part composition: (1) pilgrims worship and offer gifts to a seated brahmana; (2) in his absence, they worship a temple image/linga with lamps and flowers—showing continuity of devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)
• Pratimā (icon/image)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Living embodiments of dharma (worthy persons) are prioritized for honor; substitutes are secondary when necessary.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where right worship is framed as right conduct toward the dharmic community.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pūjā of Brāhmaṇas is recommended; if unavailable, pratimā (icons) and similar objects are to be worshipped.