Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 69

Devanagari script

ज्योत्स्नाभिर्भगवान्सोमो जगतो हितकाम्यया । ततस्तस्मै ददौ राज्यं ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदां वरः

Transliteration

jyotsnābhirbhagavānsomo jagato hitakāmyayā | tatastasmai dadau rājyaṃ brahmā brahmavidāṃ varaḥ

Translation

The blessed Lord Soma, with his moonbeams and with the wish to benefit the world, labored for the welfare of creation. Therefore Brahmā—foremost among the knowers of Brahman—granted him sovereignty.

Word by Word

• ज्योत्स्नाभिः: with moonlight rays
• ज्योत्स्नाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योत्स्ना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd case), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• भगवान्: the blessed, venerable
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन — Nominative singular; विशेषण

• सोमः: Soma (the Moon)
• सोमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• हितकाम्यया: with the desire for welfare
• हितकाम्यया: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित-काम्य (प्रातिपदिक; हित + काम्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental singular; हेतु/प्रयोजनार्थे

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Adverbial/अधिकरण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘then/thereupon’

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन — Dative singular

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — 3rd person singular

• राज्यम्: kingdom, sovereignty
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• ब्रह्मविदाम्: of the knowers of Brahman
• ब्रह्मविदाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-विद् (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मन् + विद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन — Genitive plural

• वरः: the best, excellent one
• वरः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular; उपपद-विशेषणार्थे

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā, serene and radiant, confers sovereignty upon Soma; Soma’s moonbeams spread outward, touching earth and waters, symbolizing welfare.

Characters & Entities

• Soma
• Brahmā
• Jyotsnā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Authority is portrayed as earned through loka-hita (world-benefit): Soma’s nourishing light leads to divinely sanctioned sovereignty.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa Kṣetra, where the narration praises cosmic offices as part of the kṣetra’s sacred greatness.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None stated; the focus is on merit (hita) and divine appointment.