Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 79

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मर्षीणामाश्रमेषु दीयतामाश्रयाः सदा । मयात्र स्थापितं लिंगं सर्वकालं दृढव्रताः

Transliteration

brahmarṣīṇāmāśrameṣu dīyatāmāśrayāḥ sadā | mayātra sthāpitaṃ liṃgaṃ sarvakālaṃ dṛḍhavratāḥ

Translation

Let refuge and support be granted always in the hermitages of the Brahmarṣis. Here I have established a Liṅga; therefore remain steadfast in your vows at all times.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मर्षीणाम्: of the Brahmarishis
• ब्रह्मर्षीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• आश्रमेषु: in the hermitages
• आश्रमेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दीयताम्: let (it) be given
• दीयताम्: Vidhi (Injunctive predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• आश्रयाः: shelters; refuges
• आश्रयाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr̥ (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• स्थापितम्: established
• स्थापितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थापित (कृदन्त; √स्था (धातु) + causative (णिच्) ‘स्थापय’ → क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); ‘लिङ्गम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• लिङ्गम्: (Śiva-)liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वकालम्: at all times; always
• सर्वकालम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः (‘सर्वं कालं’ = always), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• दृढव्रताः: O firm-vowed ones
• दृढव्रताः: Sambodhana/Addressed (Vocative sense/सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृढ + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (‘दृढं व्रतं येषाम्/दृढव्रत’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Soma (the Moon-god), addressing the dvijas/ritual leaders at Prabhāsa

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (liṅga-sthāpana site within the kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A tranquil hermitage grove near Prabhāsa: Brahmarṣis seated in meditation; townspeople bring supplies; at the center stands a newly established liṅga on a pedestal with lamps and bilva leaves; devotees take firm vows.

Characters & Entities

• Soma
• brahmarṣi
• āśrama
• Śiva-liṅga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Protecting and supporting sages and their āśramas is integral to preserving a tīrtha’s sanctity and Śaiva worship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where a liṅga is said to be established and where sage-āśramas must be supported.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Maintain steadfast vows and provide continual shelter/support in the hermitages of Brahmarṣis.