Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

प्राजापत्या महीपालाः कपोता ग्रंथिकास्तथा । कुटिकाश्चाथ वैतालाः पद्महंसा वरानने

Transliteration

prājāpatyā mahīpālāḥ kapotā graṃthikāstathā | kuṭikāścātha vaitālāḥ padmahaṃsā varānane

Translation

O Schönangesichtige, die Gruppen sind: die Prājāpatyas, die Mahīpālas, die Kapotas, die Granthikas; ebenso die Kuṭikās; und auch die Vaitālas und die Padmahaṃsas.

Word by Word

• प्राजापत्याः: Prājāpatyas (a class)
• प्राजापत्याः: Karta (Enumerated class/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संज्ञा (name of a class)

• महीपालाः: Mahīpālas
• महीपालाः: Karta (Enumerated class/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही-पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: “protector of the earth”); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संज्ञा (class-name)

• कपोताः: Kapotās
• कपोताः: Karta (Enumerated class/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संज्ञा (class-name)

• ग्रन्थिकाः: Granthi(k)as
• ग्रन्थिकाः: Karta (Enumerated class/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रन्थिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संज्ञा (class-name)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यतावाचक (particle: “likewise; also”)

• कुटिकाः: Kuṭikās
• कुटिकाः: Karta (Enumerated class/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुटिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संज्ञा (class-name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• अथ: then; also
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/समुच्चयार्थक (then; also)

• वैतालाः: Vaitālās
• वैतालाः: Karta (Enumerated class/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संज्ञा (class-name)

• पद्महंसाः: Padmahaṃsas
• पद्महंसाः: Karta (Enumerated class/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म-हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (“lotus-swan”, class-name); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वरानने: O fair-faced one
• वरानने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर-आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (“beautiful-faced”); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Śiva (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: varānanā (fair-faced lady)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A litany of resident-orders is recited; visualized as a procession or tableau of distinct ascetic types—some with manuscripts (Granthika), some in small huts (Kuṭikā), some swan-symbolic renunciants (Padmahaṃsa)—all within the Prabhāsa sacred landscape.

Characters & Entities

• Prājāpatya
• Mahīpāla
• Kapota
• Granthika
• Kuṭikā
• Vaitāla
• Padmahaṃsa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The tradition recognizes multiple legitimate disciplines for holy-place living, each with its own rule and character.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsakṣetra, described as hosting varied dharmic lifestyles among residents.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

This verse lists categories; the prescriptions (their vṛtti/vows) are indicated to be explained subsequently.