Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

तृणगुल्मलता वीरुद्वल्लीगुच्छादि कोटिशः । एतेषामधिपश्चन्द्रो धारयत्यखिलं जगत्

Transliteration

tṛṇagulmalatā vīrudvallīgucchādi koṭiśaḥ | eteṣāmadhipaścandro dhārayatyakhilaṃ jagat

Translation

Grasses, shrubs, creepers, climbing vines, thickets, and countless such growths—over all these the Moon is the lord; and by them he sustains the entire world.

Word by Word

• tṛṇa-gulma-latāḥ: grasses, shrubs, and creepers
• tṛṇa-gulma-latāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + gulma (प्रातिपदिक) + latā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (grass, shrubs, and creepers)

• vīrud-vallī-guccha-ādi: herbs, vines, clusters, etc.
• vīrud-vallī-guccha-ādi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrud (प्रातिपदिक) + vallī (प्रातिपदिक) + guccha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-समाहार, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (collective); समाहार-द्वन्द्व + ‘ādi’ (etc.)

• koṭiśaḥ: in crores; by millions
• koṭiśaḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + śas (शस्-प्रत्यय, अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of measure: ‘by crores’, ‘in millions’)

• eteṣām: of these
• eteṣām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• adhipaḥ: lord/overlord
• adhipaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• candraḥ: the Moon
• candraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dhārayati: supports/sustains
• dhārayati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• akhilam: entire/whole
• akhilam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying jagat)

• jagat: world/universe
• jagat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A panoramic vision: countless grasses, shrubs, creepers, and thickets under a luminous Moon; the Moon is depicted as a crowned lord whose cool rays nourish the green world.

Characters & Entities

• Candra
• Oṣadhi
• Jagat

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Moon’s divinity is shown through his nourishing governance of plant life, linking cosmic rhythm to worldly welfare.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa Kṣetra, where the māhātmya situates Soma’s cosmic office within the sanctity of the place.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is stated; the verse emphasizes cosmic administration and sustentation.