Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिभिर्देवैः कृतमेतन्महाव्रतम् । पुनस्तु सोमराजेन दक्षशापहतेन च

Transliteration

brahmaviṣṇvādibhirdevaiḥ kṛtametanmahāvratam | punastu somarājena dakṣaśāpahatena ca

Translation

This great vow was practiced by the gods—Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and others. Later, King Soma too observed it, after being struck by Dakṣa’s curse.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिभिः: by Brahmā, Viṣṇu and others
• ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विष्णु + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादि (तत्पुरुषः: ‘ब्रह्म-विष्णु-आदि’ इत्यादयः)

• देवैः: by the gods
• देवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कृतम्: was performed/done
• कृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्तं कृदन्तम् (भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोगे), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कृतम्’ = ‘done/made’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘महाव्रतम्’ इति

• महाव्रतम्: the great vow/observance
• महाव्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—महाव्रत (कर्मधारयः: ‘महच्च तत् व्रतम्’)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थे

• सोमराजेन: by King Soma (the Moon)
• सोमराजेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सोमराज (तत्पुरुषः: ‘सोमः एव राजा’/‘सोम-राजा’)

• दक्षशापहतेन: (by him) struck by Dakṣa’s curse
• दक्षशापहतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष + शाप + हत (प्रातिपदिक; हन्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—दक्षशापहत (तत्पुरुषः: ‘दक्षस्य शापेन हतः’); विशेषणम्—‘सोमराजेन’ इति

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थकः अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Somavāra-vrata (Mahāvrata)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A mythic tableau: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and devas performing a great vow; Soma, wan and afflicted by Dakṣa’s curse, later undertaking the same observance seeking relief.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Viṣṇu
• Soma (Candra)
• Dakṣa
• Somavāra-vrata

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even deities rely on dharmic observances; vrata becomes a sacred remedy for suffering and karmic affliction.

Which specific holy site (Tīrtha) is glorified here?

The narrative belongs to Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya, linking Soma’s cure and merit to the Prabhāsa sacred landscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Performance of the mahāvrata identified with Somavāra-vrata, presented as a means of overcoming curse-born affliction.