Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

ततो देवाः सगंधर्वा ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः । अभवन्भयसंत्रस्ताः सर्वे प्रांजलयः स्थिताः

Transliteration

tato devāḥ sagaṃdharvā brahmāṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ | abhavanbhayasaṃtrastāḥ sarve prāṃjalayaḥ sthitāḥ

Translation

Then the gods—together with the Gandharvas—went to Brahmā for refuge. Terrified by fear, they all stood with joined palms in supplication.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम/अपादानबोधक (then/thereupon)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — masculine, nominative plural

• स-गन्धर्वाः: together with the Gandharvas
• स-गन्धर्वाः: Karta (Subject apposition/कर्ता-सहचर)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — masculine, nominative plural; ‘स’ उपपदपूर्वकः (with the Gandharvas)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — masculine, accusative singular

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (Goal as object/गति-लक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — neuter, accusative singular; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायां द्वितीया (as goal)

• गताः: went
• गताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — having gone

• अभवन्: became/were
• अभवन्: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन — they became/were

• भय-संत्रस्ताः: terrified by fear
• भय-संत्रस्ताः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + संत्रस्त (√त्रस् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — masculine, nominative plural; ‘भयेन संत्रस्ताः’

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — masculine, nominative plural

• प्राञ्जलयः: with joined palms
• प्राञ्जलयः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — masculine, nominative plural; ‘प्राञ्जलिः’ = अञ्जलिं कृत्वा (with joined palms)

• स्थिताः: stood
• स्थिताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — having stood/remained

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator within Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A procession of devas and gandharvas, faces anxious, hands folded, entering Brahmā’s radiant hall; Brahmā seated on lotus, calm amid their fear.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Gandharvas
• Brahmā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In crisis, even the mighty seek higher guidance; surrender (śaraṇāgati) is a dharmic response to overwhelming danger.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative belongs to Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya, centering the sanctity of Prabhāsa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the gesture of prāñjali indicates reverence rather than a formal ritual instruction.