Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा द्विजाञ्छ्रेष्ठांस्तत्र स्थाने स्थितो विभुः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā brahmā dvijāñchreṣṭhāṃstatra sthāne sthito vibhuḥ

Translation

Als Brahmā, der allgegenwärtige Herr, die Vorzüglichsten der Zweimalgeborenen (Brāhmaṇas) erblickte, verweilte er dort an jener heiligen Stätte.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier of main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: दृश्; अर्थे: ‘दृष्ट्वा’ = having seen

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• द्विजान्: the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• श्रेष्ठान्: excellent, best
• श्रेष्ठान्: Karma (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘द्विजान्’)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative setting/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• स्थाने: in the place
• स्थाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्थितः: stood / was situated
• स्थितः: Karta (Predicate participle agreeing with subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘standing/being situated’

• विभुः: the Lord, the mighty one
• विभुः: Karta (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपाधि/विशेष्यनाम (epithet of Brahmā)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Brahmā’s sthiti-sthāna in Prabhāsa (linked to dvija-śreṣṭhas)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: null

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā, serene and radiant, beholds a group of venerable brāhmaṇas with śikhā and yajñopavīta; he chooses to remain at the spot; the atmosphere is calm, scholarly, and sanctified.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Dvija (brāhmaṇas)
• Sacred place (sthāna) in Prabhāsa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The presence and honor of dharmic brāhmaṇas sanctify a tīrtha further, and divine beings are drawn to such righteousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The ‘tatra sthāna’—the chapter’s highlighted sacred locale within Prabhāsa, associated with Brahmā’s abiding presence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is given; the verse frames the sanctity of the site through Brahmā’s stay and the assembly of eminent dvijas.