Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 57

Devanagari script

इहार्थे च पुरा प्रोक्तं इतिहासो द्विजोत्तमाः । प्रद्युम्नेन सुसंवादे मार्कण्डेन महात्मना

Transliteration

ihārthe ca purā proktaṃ itihāso dvijottamāḥ | pradyumnena susaṃvāde mārkaṇḍena mahātmanā

Translation

Ô meilleurs des deux-fois-nés, à ce même propos fut jadis raconté un antique récit sacré, dans un dialogue excellent entre Pradyumna et le sage magnanime Mārkaṇḍeya.

Word by Word

• इह: here
• इह: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb: here)

• अर्थे: in the matter/purpose
• अर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (formerly)

• प्रोक्तम्: was spoken/told
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इतिहासः: the narrative/legend
• इतिहासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best brāhmaṇas
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः

• प्रद्युम्नेन: by/with Pradyumna
• प्रद्युम्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• सुसंवादे: in a good dialogue
• सुसंवादे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारयार्थः (सु-सम्वादः = उत्तमः संवादः)

• मार्कण्डेन: by Mārkaṇḍa
• मार्कण्डेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• महात्मना: by the great-souled (sage)
• महात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मार्कण्डेन)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic voice)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā (implied)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Brāhmaṇas (dvija-uttamāḥ)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A narrative hinge: the narrator announces an ancient itihāsa to be told, highlighting the exemplary dialogue between Pradyumna and sage Mārkaṇḍeya; the scene shows two dignified figures in discourse, with listeners poised.

Characters & Entities

• Pradyumna
• Mārkaṇḍeya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred geography is best received through authentic lineage narratives—Purāṇic truth is transmitted via revered dialogues and ancient itihāsa.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā is being introduced as the central sacred locus, with its greatness to be established through an ancient dialogue.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is prescribed in this verse; it sets the authority and source of the forthcoming māhātmya.