Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 65

Devanagari script

देवान्कुर्युरदेवांश्च नाशयेयुरिदं जगत् । ब्राह्मणाश्चैव देवाश्च तेज एकं द्विधा कृतम्

Transliteration

devānkuryuradevāṃśca nāśayeyuridaṃ jagat | brāhmaṇāścaiva devāśca teja ekaṃ dvidhā kṛtam

Translation

They could make gods into non-gods, and they could even destroy this world. Brāhmaṇas and gods indeed share one single tejas, divided into two forms.

Word by Word

• देवान्: gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• कुर्युः: might make
• कुर्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• अदेवान्: non-gods/demons
• अदेवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ- (निषेध-उपसर्ग) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नाशयेयुः: might destroy
• नाशयेयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘जगत्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphasis)

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तेजः: splendour/power
• तेजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तेजः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• द्विधा: in two parts/ways
• द्विधा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in two ways)

• कृतम्: made/divided
• कृतम्: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तेजः’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषण

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya narrative style within Skanda Purāṇa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Soma / general audience via Soma

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An allegorical tableau: a single radiant orb labeled ‘tejas’ splits into two streams—one entering brāhmaṇas holding Veda/mantras, the other entering devas with crowns and weapons—while the world rests balanced beneath; a shadowy inversion shows gods falling if tejas is misused.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Deva
• Tejas
• Jagat

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Brāhmaṇas and devas are presented as two expressions of one sacred power; spiritual authority must be honored.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where the Purāṇa frames social-spiritual harmony as part of the tīrtha’s greatness.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is stated; the implication supports dharmic conduct—respecting those who uphold mantra and yajña.