Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

सर्वौषधीनामधिपः पितॄणां प्रीणनं परम् । तदाश्रयश्च त्वद्भक्तस्त्व त्सेवातत्परः शशी

Transliteration

sarvauṣadhīnāmadhipaḥ pitṝṇāṃ prīṇanaṃ param | tadāśrayaśca tvadbhaktastva tsevātatparaḥ śaśī

Translation

Er ist der Herr aller heilenden Kräuter und der höchste, der die Pitṛs (Ahnen) zufriedenstellt. Auf diese göttliche Ordnung gestützt, ist der Mond dein Bhakta, ganz dem Dienst an dir hingegeben.

Word by Word

• सर्वौषधीनाम्: of all herbs/plants
• सर्वौषधीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + औषधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• अधिपः: lord
• अधिपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors (Pitṛs)
• पितॄणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• प्रीणनम्: the act of pleasing/satisfaction
• प्रीणनम्: Prakaraṇa/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्री (धातु) → प्रीणन (प्रातिपदिक/भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-भाव

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

• तदाश्रयः: dependent on that/one who takes refuge in that
• तदाश्रयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (शशी)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• त्वद्भक्तः: your devotee
• त्वद्भक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वद् (युष्मद्-षष्ठी-प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (शशी)

• त्वत्सेवा: service to you
• त्वत्सेवा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (युष्मद्-षष्ठी-प्रातिपदिक) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (तत्परः इत्यस्य)

• तत्परः: devoted/intent on
• तत्परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (शशी)

• शशी: the moon
• शशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Devī (continuing her query/praise-context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (Somnātha)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Soma is portrayed as cosmic healer and pitṛ-satisfier, yet depicted as a humble devotee of Śiva, intent on service—linking nourishment, ancestry rites, and devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Śaśī (Moon)
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Auṣadhi (herbs)
• Śiva (implied as 'tvat')

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even cosmic powers that nourish life and support ancestral satisfaction are ultimately servants of the Supreme—devotion orders the universe.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching sits within Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya; the verse emphasizes Candra’s cosmic role rather than a local shrine.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; it alludes to Pitṛ-prīṇana (ancestral satisfaction), a theme connected with śrāddha and lunar timing.