Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 50

Devanagari script

बिंबमूर्ध्वं च यत्रस्थं तत्र भूतनिवेशनम्

Transliteration

biṃbamūrdhvaṃ ca yatrasthaṃ tatra bhūtaniveśanam

Translation

Wo ein solches Bildnis (bimba) erhöht, oben aufgestellt ist, dort befindet sich wahrlich die Wohnstatt der Bhūtas (Geisterwesen).

Word by Word

• बिंबम्: disk/orb; image
• बिंबम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards, above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषणम्/adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यत्रस्थम्: situated there/where
• यत्रस्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय) + स्थ (धातु; √स्था) → यत्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (स्थित/स्थ ‘standing’), अव्ययीभाव-तत्पुरुषभावः ‘यत्र स्थितम्’ (neuter nom/acc sg)

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

• भूतनिवेशनम्: dwelling/abode of spirits/beings
• भूतनिवेशनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + निवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘भूतानां निवेशनम्’ (neuter nom/acc sg)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya narrative style within Skanda Purāṇa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An interior threshold where an effigy is placed high above; shadowy, subtle forms suggest bhūta habitation; a contrast is implied with a proper altar space.

Characters & Entities

• Bhūta (spirits)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic dharma treats disorderly or improper placements and ominous signs as openings for negativity; spiritual order protects the home.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsakṣetra, whose māhātmya frames domestic purity as part of sacred living.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct rite is stated here; subsequent verses emphasize worship, japa, and devotion as protective disciplines.