Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

तौ चात्र क्षेत्रसंस्थानां लोकानां भ्रमविभ्रमैः । योजयंति सदा चित्तं विकल्पानैक्यसंकुलम्

Transliteration

tau cātra kṣetrasaṃsthānāṃ lokānāṃ bhramavibhramaiḥ | yojayaṃti sadā cittaṃ vikalpānaikyasaṃkulam

Translation

Und hier verstricken jene beiden durch Verwirrung und Verblendung fortwährend den Geist der Menschen, die in der heiligen Gegend wohnen, und füllen ihn mit einer Vielzahl schwankender Möglichkeiten.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), द्विवचनम् (Dual)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place)

• क्षेत्रसंस्थानाम्: of the configurations/arrangements of the sacred places
• क्षेत्रसंस्थानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र + संस्थान (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• भ्रमविभ्रमैः: by delusions and confusions
• भ्रमविभ्रमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रम + विभ्रम (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• योजयन्ति: they yoke/engage
• योजयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of time)

• चित्तम्: mind
• चित्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• विकल्पानैक्यसंकुलम्: crowded with alternatives and discord
• विकल्पानैक्यसंकुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकल्प + अनैक्य + संकुल (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम् (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying) चित्तम्

Speaker

Śiva (continuation of the same discourse to Devī)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (inner precincts)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devī

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two subtle attendant-figures cast a net of confusion over pilgrims: thought-bubbles of many choices swirl around their heads; the sacred temple stands steady in the background, contrasting inner turbulence with outer sanctity.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhrama
• Saṁbhrama
• Prabhāsa Kṣetra
• Someśvara (implicit)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even in holy places, inner distraction and doubt can obstruct devotion; steadiness of mind is essential for receiving kṣetra-merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa Kṣetra (Somnātha region), describing subtle obstacles faced by those living there.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is stated; the emphasis is on mental discipline and avoiding delusion while residing in the kṣetra.