Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

देवकीनन्दनस्यार्थे रथं कारापयन्ति ये । कल्पांतं विष्णुलोके ते वसन्ति पितृभिः सह

Transliteration

devakīnandanasyārthe rathaṃ kārāpayanti ye | kalpāṃtaṃ viṣṇuloke te vasanti pitṛbhiḥ saha

Translation

Those who cause a chariot to be made for the sake of Devakī’s Son (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) dwell in Viṣṇu’s world until the end of the aeon (kalpa), together with their ancestors.

Word by Word

• देवकी-नन्दनस्य: of Devakī’s son (Krishna)
• देवकी-नन्दनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकी (प्रातिपदिक) + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवक्याः नन्दनः)

• अर्थे: for the sake/purpose
• अर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; प्रयोजन-अधिकरणम्

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कारापयन्ति: they cause (it) to be made / have (it) made
• कारापयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) [णिच् causative: कारयति]
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative)

• ये: who/those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• कल्प-अन्तम्: until the end of a kalpa
• कल्प-अन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे कालावधि-प्रयोगः (up to the end of a kalpa)

• विष्णु-लोके: in Vishnu’s world
• विष्णु-लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः लोकः)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• वसन्ति: they dwell
• वसन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पितृभिः: with (their) ancestors/fathers
• पितृभिः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; सह-योगे करण/सहकारकभावः

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक-उपपद (postposition)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa māhātmya narration style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Daityarājendra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Artisans build a grand ratha for Kṛṣṇa; donors offer gold, timber, cloth, and flags. In a visionary overlay, the donors and their pitṛs appear radiant, ascending to Viṣṇuloka, suggesting kalpa-long reward.

Characters & Entities

• Devakīnandana (Kṛṣṇa)
• Viṣṇuloka
• Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Selfless service offered to Śrī Kṛṣṇa becomes enduring merit that benefits both the devotee and the ancestral line.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā, the sacred city of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, within the Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa’s Dvārakā-māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Commissioning or sponsoring a chariot (ratha-sevā) for Devakīnandana (Kṛṣṇa).