Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

अधुना मम देवेश सन्देहो हृदि संस्थितः । कौतूहलं परं देव कथयस्व महेश्वर

Transliteration

adhunā mama deveśa sandeho hṛdi saṃsthitaḥ | kautūhalaṃ paraṃ deva kathayasva maheśvara

Translation

Nun, o Herr der Götter, hat sich ein Zweifel in meinem Herzen festgesetzt. O Gott, mein Verlangen zu wissen ist groß; sprich zu mir, o Maheśvara.

Word by Word

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• मम: my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• देवेश: O lord of gods
• देवेश: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सन्देहः: doubt
• सन्देहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• संस्थितः: situated/settled
• संस्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) → संस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (सन्देहः)

• कौतूहलम्: curiosity
• कौतूहलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौतूहल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (विधेय-भाव)

• परम्: great/supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (कौतूहलम्)

• देव: O god
• देव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• कथयस्व: tell (me)
• कथयस्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु, णिजन्त)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महेश्वर: O Maheshvara
• महेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Devī

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee, hands folded, voices a heartfelt doubt and curiosity before Maheśvara in a sacred coastal kṣetra atmosphere, with subtle संकेत of Prabhāsa’s sanctity.

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Deveśa (Śiva)
• Maheśvara (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Reverent questioning is part of dharma—spiritual understanding deepens through humble inquiry to a realized teacher.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The conversation occurs within the Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya framework, reinforcing Prabhāsa as a setting for profound instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it introduces a doctrinal question.