Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

श्रूयन्ते वेदनिर्घोषा सरसारक्तचेतसाम् । विष्णुरास्ते तत्र देवो देवानां प्रवरो गुरुः

Transliteration

śrūyante vedanirghoṣā sarasāraktacetasām | viṣṇurāste tatra devo devānāṃ pravaro guruḥ

Translation

Dort vernimmt man den widerhallenden Klang der vedischen Rezitationen von jenen, deren Geist liebevoll in die heilige Essenz versunken ist. An eben diesem Ort weilt Herr Viṣṇu—der Vornehmste unter den Göttern, der verehrte Lehrer.

Word by Word

• श्रूयन्ते: are heard
• श्रूयन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'are heard')

• वेदनिर्घोषाः: Vedic recitations/clamors
• वेदनिर्घोषाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वेदानां निर्घोषाः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सरसारक्तचेतसाम्: of those whose minds are attached to essence/nectar (i.e., absorbed)
• सरसारक्तचेतसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरसा + रक्त + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: सरसारक्तं चेतः येषाम्; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आस्ते: dwells, sits
• आस्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपदम्

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विष्णुः इति विशेष्य (apposition)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रवरः: the foremost
• प्रवरः: Visheshaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); देवः/विष्णुः इति विशेषण

• गुरुः: teacher, preceptor
• गुरुः: Vidhaya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय (predicate noun)

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva) (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An āśrama cluster in Prabhāsa: sages seated in rows chanting Veda; the air vibrates with śruti; in the background, Viṣṇu is envisioned as present—serene, teacher-like, blessing the reciters.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Vedas
• Sages/reciters

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A true tīrtha is known by Vedic sound and absorbed minds; devotion and scriptural recitation invite divine presence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

An āśrama-region in Himavat associated with Pippalāda, presented as a place where Viṣṇu abides.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vedic recitation (veda-nirghoṣa) is highlighted as the living practice sanctifying the place.