Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

वर्षाशीतातपाः काला वर्तंते भुवि सांप्रतम् । न स्वर्गे नैव पाताले भीता भूमौ भ्रमंति हि

Transliteration

varṣāśītātapāḥ kālā vartaṃte bhuvi sāṃpratam | na svarge naiva pātāle bhītā bhūmau bhramaṃti hi

Translation

Jetzt auf Erden herrschen die Zeiten von Regen, Kälte und Hitze; weder im Himmel noch in Pātāla—von Furcht ergriffen, irren sie wahrlich auf der Erde umher.

Word by Word

• वर्षा: rains
• वर्षा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; (समासपूर्वपद)

• शीत: cold
• शीत: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; (समासपूर्वपद)

• आतपाः: heat, sunshine
• आतपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• कालाः: times/seasons
• कालाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• वर्तन्ते: occur, take place
• वर्तन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• साम्प्रतम्: at present
• साम्प्रतम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम्प्रतम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (now/at present)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• स्वर्गे: in heaven
• स्वर्गे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Discourse particle (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (indeed/just)

• पाताले: in the netherworld
• पाताले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• भीताः: afraid
• भीताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भी)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• भूमौ: on earth
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• भ्रमन्ति: wander
• भ्रमन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Discourse particle (हेतु/निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (for/indeed)

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual speaker within the Vastrāpathakṣetra-māhātmya narrative)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A single sacred landscape shown in three bands: monsoon rain, winter chill, and summer heat; pilgrims continue their journey in each band, suggesting seasons ‘roaming’ on earth while heaven and pātāla remain stable.

Characters & Entities

• Svarga
• Pātāla
• Bhūmi (earth)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Earth is characterized by change and hardship; this instability motivates seeking dharma, merit, and refuge through sacred practice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Mahātmya context is Vastrāpathakṣetra in Prabhāsa, where earthly hardship contrasts with the promised fruits of pilgrimage and devotion.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual instruction appears here.