Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा ज्वलंतं तपसा कूले नदनदीपतेः । कापालिकस्य पुरतः सुस्नातं वरसीकरैः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā jvalaṃtaṃ tapasā kūle nadanadīpateḥ | kāpālikasya purataḥ susnātaṃ varasīkaraiḥ

Translation

They beheld the sage blazing with ascetic power on the bank of the lord of rivers, and saw that skull-bearing ascetic freshly bathed, his body sprinkled with auspicious droplets of water.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव (Gerund) — having seen

• ज्वलन्तम्: blazing
• ज्वलन्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु) → ज्वलन्त् (शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त — Present participle, accusative singular

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• कूले: on the bank
• कूले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन — Locative singular

• नदनदीपतेः: of the lord of rivers (river’s)
• नदनदीपतेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नद (प्रातिपदिक) + नदी (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Genitive singular; द्वन्द्व-समास ‘नद-नदी’ + तत्पुरुष ‘नदनद्योर् पतिः’ (lord of rivers/stream)

• कापालिकस्य: of the skull-bearing ascetic
• कापालिकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कापालिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• पुरतः: in front of
• पुरतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय — ‘in front of’

• सुस्नातम्: well-bathed
• सुस्नातम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + स्ना (धातु) → सुस्नात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त — well-bathed, accusative singular

• वरसीकरैः: with fine water-sprays/droplets
• वरसीकरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + सीकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; कर्मधारय ‘वराः सीकराः’ — excellent droplets/sprays

Speaker

Narrator (contextual, unspecified in snippet)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Durvāsā-tīra (contextual riverbank) within Dvārakā-kṣetra

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Durvāsā stands on a riverbank, body radiant with ascetic heat, holding a kapāla (skull-bowl), freshly bathed with water droplets glistening; Kṛṣṇa and Rukmiṇī approach from the side in reverence.

Characters & Entities

• Durvāsā
• Kṛṣṇa
• Rukmiṇī
• Dvārakā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True spiritual authority is recognized by tapas (austerity) and purity; approaching such a sage with reverence sanctifies the visitor.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Dvārakā context frames the episode, while the verse highlights a riverbank setting—typical of tīrtha sanctity where sages perform tapas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is prescribed, but the verse emphasizes snāna (ritual bathing) and purity as auspicious marks.