Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 48

Devanagari script

निरूढभारमात्मानं देवादेशाद्विचिंत्य सा । प्रहृष्टा सुमनास्तस्मात्प्रवृत्ता दक्षिणामुखी

Transliteration

nirūḍhabhāramātmānaṃ devādeśādviciṃtya sā | prahṛṣṭā sumanāstasmātpravṛttā dakṣiṇāmukhī

Translation

Indem sie erwog, dass auf Geheiß der Götter ihre Last ordnungsgemäß übernommen worden war, wurde sie froh und heiter im Sinn; darum zog sie weiter, nach Süden gewandt.

Word by Word

• nirūḍha-bhāram: bearing a burden/loaded with burden
• nirūḍha-bhāram: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirūḍha (प्रातिपदिक; nir-√ruh-निष्पन्न) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः; विशेषणम् (ātmānam-विशेषण)

• ātmānam: herself
• ātmānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• deva-ādeśāt: from the gods’ command
• deva-ādeśāt: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + ādeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (devānām ādeśaḥ)

• vicintya: having considered
• vicintya: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial gerund/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-cint (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund), अव्यय; ‘having reflected/considered’

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• prahṛṣṭā: delighted
• prahṛṣṭā: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prahṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; pra-√hṛṣ-निष्पन्न)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (sā-विशेषण)

• sumanāḥ: good-minded, cheerful
• sumanāḥ: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sumanas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (sā-विशेषण); प्रातिपदिकं ‘सुमनस्’ (good-minded)

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (Reason/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tasmāt (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-निपातवत्)
• Form: हेतौ/तस्मात्-प्रयोगः; अव्ययवत् (therefore/from that)

• pravṛttā: proceeded
• pravṛttā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-vṛt (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि (set out)

• dakṣiṇā-mukhī: south-facing
• dakṣiṇā-mukhī: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (dakṣiṇā mukhaṃ yasyāḥ sā)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced for Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (route-segment: dakṣiṇāmukhī movement)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Sarasvatī pauses in contemplation, a softened glow around her; the sacred fire is secure, her posture relaxed; she turns to face south, beginning a calm, purposeful departure along a coastal path under a wide sky.

Characters & Entities

• Deva (the gods)
• Dakṣiṇā (southern direction)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When actions align with divine ordinance (deva-ājñā), the mind becomes clear and joyful, supporting righteous movement and purpose.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa Kṣetra’s broader sacred route, indicating directional pilgrimage movement within the tīrtha-mahātmyas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is stated; the emphasis is on obedience to divine instruction as a dhārmic principle guiding tīrtha conduct.