Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

एष त्रैलोक्यरक्षार्थं शोषयामि महार्णवम् । द्रक्ष्यध्वं कौतुकं देवाः समीनमकरैर्महत्

Transliteration

eṣa trailokyarakṣārthaṃ śoṣayāmi mahārṇavam | drakṣyadhvaṃ kautukaṃ devāḥ samīnamakarairmahat

Translation

«Zum Schutz der drei Welten werde ich nun den großen Ozean austrocknen. Schaut, o Devas, dieses Wunder—weit und mächtig, erfüllt von Fischen und Makara, den Meeresungeheuern.»

Word by Word

• एषः: I (this one)
• एषः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एषद्/एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वक्तृ-स्वपरिचयार्थ (this person = I)

• त्रैलोक्यरक्षार्थम्: for the protection of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यरक्षार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य + रक्षा + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रैलोक्यस्य रक्षायै अर्थः = for the protection of the three worlds)

• शोषयामि: I will dry up / I dry up
• शोषयामि: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुष् (धातु) [णिच् causative: शोषय-]
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• महार्णवम्: the great ocean
• महार्णवम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (महान् अर्णवः)

• द्रक्ष्यध्वम्: you will see
• द्रक्ष्यध्वम्: Kriya (Imperative sense: prediction/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कौतुकम्: a marvel / wonder
• कौतुकम्: Karma (Object of ‘see’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौतुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देवाः: O gods
• देवाः: Sambodhana/Addressed (Vocative sense though form = nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स-: with
• स-: Preverb (compound member)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपसर्ग (prefix) ‘सह/सम्’ अर्थे; ‘समीनमकरैः’ इत्यत्र समासाङ्ग

• मीन: fish
• मीन: Compound member
• Type: Noun
• Root: मीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• मकरैः: with makaras (sea-creatures)
• मकरैः: Karana/Association (with fish and makaras)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘समीनमकरैः’ इत्यस्य उत्तरपद

• समीनमकरैः: together with fish and makaras
• समीनमकरैः: Sahakari (Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + मीन + मकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (मीनाश्च मकराश्च) सहार्थे तृतीया

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कौतुकम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Agastya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (Somnātha region)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis (e.g., Śaunaka’s assembly; typical frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Agastya, radiant and austere, declares he will dry the roaring ocean for the three worlds’ protection; devas hover in the sky, gazing at the sea teeming with fish and makaras.

Characters & Entities

• Agastya
• Devas
• Trailokya
• Ocean (Mahārṇava)
• Makaras
• Fish (Mīna)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Tapas directed toward loka-saṃgraha (welfare of the worlds) is the highest use of spiritual power.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The act unfolds within the Prabhāsa Kṣetra Māhātmya narrative, presenting Prabhāsa as a stage for world-saving dharmic deeds.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal ritual is prescribed; the verse records Agastya’s resolve (saṅkalpa) to dry the ocean for cosmic protection.