Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

निवेश्य नगरं सोमः श्रीसोमेश्वरसन्निधौ । स्वकर्मणां प्रचारार्थमथाभ्यर्थयत द्विजान्

Transliteration

niveśya nagaraṃ somaḥ śrīsomeśvarasannidhau | svakarmaṇāṃ pracārārthamathābhyarthayata dvijān

Translation

Having founded a city in the very presence of Śrī Someśvara, Soma then requested the twice-born, so that their own sacred duties might be established and flourish.

Word by Word

• निवेश्य: having settled/established
• निवेश्य: Kriya-viseshana (पूर्वकर्म/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: विश्, उपसर्ग: नि-; क्रियाविशेषणभावेन

• नगरम्: the city
• नगरम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• सोमः: Soma
• सोमः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• श्रीसोमेश्वरसन्निधौ: in the presence of Śrī Someśvara
• श्रीसोमेश्वरसन्निधौ: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + सोमेश्वर + सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्निधि-शब्दः पुंलिङ्गः), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; समासः: श्रीसोमेश्वरस्य सन्निधौ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• स्वकर्मणाम्: of (his) own duties/acts
• स्वकर्मणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः: स्वं कर्म (कर्मधारय)

• प्रचारार्थम्: for the purpose of propagation
• प्रचारार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रचार + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; समासः: प्रचारस्य अर्थम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• अभ्यर्थयत्: requested/entreated
• अभ्यर्थयत्: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-अर्थय् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: अर्थय् (चुरादि), उपसर्ग: अभि-

• द्विजान्: the Brahmins
• द्विजान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narrator (within Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya; traditionally Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa addressing sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Śrī Someśvara (Somnātha) at Prabhāsa

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Soma lays out a city plan beside the Someshvara shrine; brāhmaṇas arrive with scriptures and ritual implements; the city’s streets align toward the temple, symbolizing dharma’s centrality.

Characters & Entities

• Soma
• Śrī Someśvara
• Dvija (Brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A holy place is strengthened when communities are organized around dharma—supporting those who uphold ritual, teaching, and sacred conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Śrī Someśvara at Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where the city is said to be established.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The propagation and regular performance of sva-karmas—Vedic rites and prescribed duties—through inviting dvijas to reside and serve.