Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 110

Devanagari script

एवंविधान्पिशाचांस्तु दृष्ट्वा दीनानुकम्पया । तेभ्योऽहमवदं किञ्चित्कारुण्यादल्पचेतसाम्

Transliteration

evaṃvidhānpiśācāṃstu dṛṣṭvā dīnānukampayā | tebhyo'hamavadaṃ kiñcitkāruṇyādalpacetasām

Translation

Als ich solche Piśācas sah, regte sich in mir Mitleid mit den Elenden. Aus Erbarmen mit den von geringem Verstand sprach ich einige wenige Worte zu ihnen—

Word by Word

• एवंविधान्: such (of this) kind
• एवंविधान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एवंविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• पिशाचान्: piśācas, goblins
• पिशाचान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विरोध/विशेषार्थे (but/indeed)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having seen)

• दीनानुकम्पया: with compassion for the wretched
• दीनानुकम्पया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीनानुकम्पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतु/साधनभावे (by/with compassion for the distressed)

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्य), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative) / चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), बहुवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (to them)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• अवदम्: said/spoke
• अवदम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• किञ्चित्: something, a little
• किञ्चित्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (indefinite particle/adverbial accusative)

• कारुण्यात्: from compassion
• कारुण्यात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (out of compassion)

• अल्पचेतसाम्: of the dull-witted
• अल्पचेतसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्पचेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of those of little understanding)

Speaker

Unspecified first-person narrator within Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya (contextual narrator)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Piśācas (direct addressees)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Skanda (or a divine narrator-figure) stands calm and radiant before a cluster of grotesque piśācas; his posture is open-handed, non-threatening; the piśācas appear subdued, listening; the sacred landscape glows faintly behind.

Characters & Entities

• Piśāca

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even toward fallen beings, dharma speaks through compassion—guidance can uplift those trapped in ignorance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsakṣetra, where the narrative emphasizes dharmic order even amid ominous presences.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Not yet; this verse introduces the compassionate counsel that leads into practical details in subsequent verses.