Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

धनुःषोडशविस्तारं चंद्रेशात्पूर्वपश्चिमे । तत्पूर्वं ते समाख्यातं मुक्तिदानादिपूर्वकम्

Transliteration

dhanuḥṣoḍaśavistāraṃ caṃdreśātpūrvapaścime | tatpūrvaṃ te samākhyātaṃ muktidānādipūrvakam

Translation

Its extent is sixteen dhanus, lying to the east and west of Candreśa. Earlier I already described it to you, beginning with its power to bestow liberation and other fruits.

Word by Word

• धनुःषोडशविस्तारम्: having a span of sixteen bows (in extent)
• धनुःषोडशविस्तारम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुस् + षोडश + विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (षोडश-धनुर्विस्तारः)

• चंद्रेशात्: from Candra-īśa (Candreśa)
• चंद्रेशात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (चन्द्रस्य ईशः)

• पूर्वपश्चिमे: in the east and west
• पूर्वपश्चिमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व + पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (पूर्वश्च पश्चिमश्च)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (पूर्वम् प्रति)

• पूर्वम्: previously/earlier
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/क्रमवाचक (adverb: previously/earlier)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Genitive/Dative), एकवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (to you) अधिकयुक्तम्

• समाख्यातम्: has been explained/told
• समाख्यातम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + ख्या (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘(मया) समाख्यातम्’ = has been told

• मुक्तिदानादिपूर्वकम्: beginning with the gift of liberation, etc.
• मुक्तिदानादिपूर्वकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति + दान + आदि + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मुक्तिदानादि-पूर्वकं = beginning with granting liberation, etc.)

Speaker

Śiva (Īśvara)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Soma-nirmita-tadāga near Candreśvara

Type: kund

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devī (Pārvatī)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A schematic yet sacred vista: Candreśvara shrine at center, with an elongated lake stretching east–west; a measuring cord or staff indicates ‘sixteen dhanus’; Śiva narrates to Devī, pointing across the water.

Characters & Entities

• Candreśvara (Candreśa)
• Taḍāga/Kalākuṇḍa (context)
• Mukti (liberation)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic tīrthas are mapped with sacred geography and promised fruits, linking place, practice, and liberation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kalākuṇḍa-associated waters and lake near Candreśvara in Prabhāsakṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No new rite; the verse provides location/extent and recalls previously stated liberation-bestowing merits.