Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

भूतावग्रहरहितं भावाभावविवर्जितम् । अविज्ञेयं परं सूक्ष्मं पञ्चपञ्चादिसंभवम्

Transliteration

bhūtāvagraharahitaṃ bhāvābhāvavivarjitam | avijñeyaṃ paraṃ sūkṣmaṃ pañcapañcādisaṃbhavam

Translation

Frei vom begrenzenden Zugriff der elementaren Gestalten, jenseits von Sein und Nichtsein, ist Er unerkennbar — höchst subtil — und doch die Quelle, aus der die Fünfergruppen und andere Prinzipien hervorgehen.

Word by Word

• bhūta-avagraha-rahitam: free from the grasp/limitation of beings
• bhūta-avagraha-rahitam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + avagraha (प्रातिपदिक) + rahita (कृदन्त; √rah/√hā?; standard adjectival ‘rahita’ as prātipadika)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘भूतावग्रहेण रहितम्’ इति; विशेषण

• bhāva-abhāva-vivarjitam: devoid of existence and non-existence
• bhāva-abhāva-vivarjitam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + abhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + vivarjita (कृदन्त; √vṛj with vi)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (द्वन्द्व) — ‘भावश्च अभावश्च’ इति; ततः ‘विवर्जित’ कृदन्तेन विशेषणम्

• avijñeyam: unknowable
• avijñeyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (निषेध) + vijñeya (कृदन्त; √jñā with vi)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘विज्ञेय’ (knowable) इत्यस्य निषेधः

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• sūkṣmam: subtle
• sūkṣmam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• pañca-pañca-ādi-saṃbhavam: arising as the five-and-five etc. (groups of five)
• pañca-pañca-ādi-saṃbhavam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक) + pañca (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃbhava (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √bhū with sam)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘पञ्च-पञ्च-आदि-सम्भवम्’ (arising as/ from groups of five etc.); विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A cosmic diagram-like vision behind the Somnātha liṅga: subtle emanation of fivefold sets (elements, senses) as translucent rings, while the central deity remains ungraspable and dark-luminous.

Characters & Entities

• Sadāśiva
• Tattvas
• Prabhāsa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Absolute transcends elemental limitation and dualities, yet remains the source of cosmic principles.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where Śiva is praised as both transcendent and the origin of creation.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the focus is metaphysical instruction supporting faith and contemplation.