Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

सुखासीनं महाप्राज्ञमृषयो द्रष्टुमागताः । सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञाः स्वधर्मप्रतिपालकाः

Transliteration

sukhāsīnaṃ mahāprājñamṛṣayo draṣṭumāgatāḥ | sarvaśāstrārthatattvajñāḥ svadharmapratipālakāḥ

Translation

Les ṛṣis vinrent voir ce grand sage, assis dans la quiétude—connaisseurs du sens véritable de tous les śāstra et gardiens inébranlables de leur propre svadharma.

Word by Word

• सुखासीनम्: seated comfortably
• सुखासीनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख-आसीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सुखेन आसीनः’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः; qualifying (Prahlāda)

• महाप्राज्ञम्: very wise
• महाप्राज्ञम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘महान् प्राज्ञः’ कर्मधारयः; qualifying (Prahlāda)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Infinitive); ‘to see’

• आगताः: came, arrived
• आगताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having come’ (predicate with ऋषयः)

• सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञाः: knowers of the true meaning of all śāstras
• सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-शास्त्र-अर्थ-तत्त्व-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वं जानन्ति’ इति बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; qualifying ‘ऋषयः’

• स्वधर्मप्रतिपालकाः: upholders of their own dharma
• स्वधर्मप्रतिपालकाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-धर्म-प्रतिपालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘स्वधर्मं प्रतिपालयन्ति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; qualifying ‘ऋषयः’

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; the text introduces the scene before the sages’ question)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of venerable ṛṣis arrives at a tranquil hermitage to behold Prahlāda seated comfortably, embodying effortless wisdom; the scene emphasizes calm authority and respectful approach.

Characters & Entities

• Ṛṣis (Sages)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True authority is marked by inner ease, scriptural discernment, and steady observance of svadharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The setting belongs to Dvārakā Māhātmya (Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa), framing Dvārakā’s sacred narrative context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; the verse sets up a dhārmic assembly and inquiry.