Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

मनसा निश्चयं कृत्वा ततो वाचाऽभिधीयते । क्रियते कर्मणा पश्चात्प्रमाणं हि मनस्ततः

Transliteration

manasā niścayaṃ kṛtvā tato vācā'bhidhīyate | kriyate karmaṇā paścātpramāṇaṃ hi manastataḥ

Translation

First one forms a firm resolve in the mind; then it is declared by speech; afterward it is carried out by action. Therefore the mind is the true measure (the root of intent).

Word by Word

• manasā: by the mind
• manasā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• niścayam: decision, resolve
• niścayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niścaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having made’

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक/अपादानार्थक अव्यय (then/from that)

• vācā: by speech
• vācā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• abhidhīyate: is expressed, is stated
• abhidhīyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhidhā (अभि + √dhā/धा धातु; here denom. √abhidhā)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• kriyate: is done
• kriyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• karmaṇā: by action/deed
• karmaṇā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (afterwards)

• pramāṇam: authority, proof, standard
• pramāṇam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• manaḥ: the mind
• manaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• tataḥ: therefore, from that
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादान/हेतुवाचक अव्यय (from that/therefore)

Speaker

Sāvitrī (continuing her reasoning)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: King and assembly (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contemplative teaching moment: Sāvitrī (or the speaker) explains the threefold progression—mind, speech, action—perhaps illustrated with symbolic motifs (lotus at heart, spoken word, ritual act).

Characters & Entities

• Sāvitrī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma begins with inner resolve; speech and action should follow a purified, steady mind.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsakṣetra is the Māhātmya setting; the verse teaches inner discipline aligned with sacred-place ethos.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicitly saṅkalpa (resolve) as foundational to any rite, but no specific ritual is detailed.