Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

ततो देवाः सगंधर्वा ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः । अभवन्भयसंत्रस्ताः सर्वे प्रांजलयः स्थिताः

Transliteration

tato devāḥ sagaṃdharvā brahmāṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ | abhavanbhayasaṃtrastāḥ sarve prāṃjalayaḥ sthitāḥ

Translation

Da gingen die Götter—zusammen mit den Gandharvas—zu Brahmā, um Zuflucht zu suchen. Von Furcht erschüttert standen sie alle mit gefalteten Händen in Bitte.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम/अपादानबोधक (then/thereupon)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — masculine, nominative plural

• स-गन्धर्वाः: together with the Gandharvas
• स-गन्धर्वाः: Karta (Subject apposition/कर्ता-सहचर)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — masculine, nominative plural; ‘स’ उपपदपूर्वकः (with the Gandharvas)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — masculine, accusative singular

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (Goal as object/गति-लक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — neuter, accusative singular; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायां द्वितीया (as goal)

• गताः: went
• गताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — having gone

• अभवन्: became/were
• अभवन्: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन — they became/were

• भय-संत्रस्ताः: terrified by fear
• भय-संत्रस्ताः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + संत्रस्त (√त्रस् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — masculine, nominative plural; ‘भयेन संत्रस्ताः’

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — masculine, nominative plural

• प्राञ्जलयः: with joined palms
• प्राञ्जलयः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — masculine, nominative plural; ‘प्राञ्जलिः’ = अञ्जलिं कृत्वा (with joined palms)

• स्थिताः: stood
• स्थिताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — having stood/remained

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator within Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A procession of devas and gandharvas, faces anxious, hands folded, entering Brahmā’s radiant hall; Brahmā seated on lotus, calm amid their fear.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Gandharvas
• Brahmā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In crisis, even the mighty seek higher guidance; surrender (śaraṇāgati) is a dharmic response to overwhelming danger.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative belongs to Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya, centering the sanctity of Prabhāsa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the gesture of prāñjali indicates reverence rather than a formal ritual instruction.