Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 113

Devanagari script

रक्षोघ्नं चैव वर्चस्यं पशून्पुत्रांश्च तारयेत् । अथ मन्त्रं प्रवक्ष्यामि अमृतं ब्रह्मनिर्मितम्

Transliteration

rakṣoghnaṃ caiva varcasyaṃ paśūnputrāṃśca tārayet | atha mantraṃ pravakṣyāmi amṛtaṃ brahmanirmitam

Translation

Er vernichtet feindliche Geister und mehrt den geistigen Glanz; er schenkt Schutz und Erhebung für Vieh und Söhne. Nun werde ich das Mantra verkünden—gleich dem Nektar der Unsterblichkeit, von Brahmā geformt.

Word by Word

• रक्षोघ्नम्: slayer of demons
• रक्षोघ्नम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्षस् + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (मन्त्रम्/एतत् implied)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• वर्चस्यम्: promoting vigor/splendor
• वर्चस्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्चस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पशून्: animals/cattle
• पशून्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• पुत्रान्: sons/children
• पुत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तारयेत्: may deliver/save
• तारयेत्: Kriya (Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequencing particle)

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall declare
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अमृतम्: immortal/nectar-like
• अमृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (मन्त्रम्)

• ब्रह्मनिर्मितम्: made by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मनिर्मितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + निर्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मा/मि ‘to measure/make’ with निर्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) speaking to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sage or priest at Prabhāsa raises a hand in instruction, about to reveal a potent mantra; a protective aura surrounds a household with cattle and children, while shadowy hostile spirits retreat—symbolizing rakṣā and varcas.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Mantra, when aligned with dharma, is portrayed as both spiritual purification and protective force supporting family welfare.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, within whose māhātmya these protective Śrāddha mantras are taught.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Introduction of a Brahmā-origin mantra to be used for protection and auspiciousness in the Śrāddha context.