Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

व्यजायंत खरा गोषु करभाश्चाश्वतरीषु च । शुनीष्वपि बिडालाश्च मूषका नकुलीषु च

Transliteration

vyajāyaṃta kharā goṣu karabhāścāśvatarīṣu ca | śunīṣvapi biḍālāśca mūṣakā nakulīṣu ca

Translation

Donkeys were born among cows, and camels among she-mules; cats were born even among dogs, and mice among mongooses—nature’s order thrown into confusion, appearing as fearful portents.

Word by Word

• व्यजायन्त: were born/appeared
• व्यजायन्त: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + जन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपदम्

• खराः: donkeys
• खराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गोṣu: among cows
• गोṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• करभाः: camels/young camels
• करभाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• अश्वतरीषु: among she-mules
• अश्वतरीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वतरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• शुनीषु: among female dogs
• शुनीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• बिडालाः: cats
• बिडालाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिडाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• मूषकाः: mice
• मूषकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नकुलीषु: among female mongooses
• नकुलीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative voice within Prabhāsakṣetramāhātmya; likely Sūta)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A surreal tableau of inverted births: donkeys among cows, camels among she-mules, cats among dogs, mice among mongooses—villagers recoil, recognizing a terrifying breach of natural order.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When order (ṛta/dharma) declines, disorder manifests outwardly; one should restore dharma through restraint, worship, and holy association.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where the narrative frames cosmic and social disorder as a prelude to events of great religious consequence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse lists extraordinary omens.