Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

प्रभावात्तस्य लिंगस्य कामानिष्टानवाप्नुयुः । ततो धर्मक्रियाः सर्वा गता नाशं धरातले

Transliteration

prabhāvāttasya liṃgasya kāmāniṣṭānavāpnuyuḥ | tato dharmakriyāḥ sarvā gatā nāśaṃ dharātale

Translation

By the extraordinary power of that liṅga, people obtained the objects of their desire. Then, upon the earth, all dharmic observances declined and moved toward ruin.

Word by Word

• प्रभावात्: from the power/effect
• प्रभावात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लिङ्गस्य: of the liṅga
• लिङ्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• कामान्: desires
• कामान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• इष्टान्: desired, wished-for
• इष्टान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; इष्/इच्छ् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (कमान्)

• अवाप्नुयुः: would obtain / might obtain
• अवाप्नुयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sequence (क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानवाचक

• धर्मक्रियाः: religious rites
• धर्मक्रियाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य क्रियाः)

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (धर्मक्रियाः)

• गताः: went, came to be
• गताः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक-विशेषण (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘gone’

• नाशम्: destruction
• नाशम्: Gati-karma (Goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धरातले: on the earth’s surface
• धरातले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरातल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Speaker

Pulastya (continuing narrative context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Siddheśvara (Arbuda-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: A king addressed as nṛpa-sattama/nṛpoत्तम (likely the frame listener in this section)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant liṅga at Siddheśvara shrine emits a palpable aura; townsfolk receive desired boons, yet yajña-śālās fall silent and dāna-halls empty, symbolizing dharma’s decline.

Characters & Entities

• Liṅga (Siddheśvara)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When boons become too easily available, people may neglect dharmic discipline—highlighting the need to balance attainment with righteousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Siddheśvara liṅga is central, described as possessing immense prabhāva (spiritual potency).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct rite is prescribed; the verse offers a cautionary narrative about maintaining dharma even when desires are fulfilled.