Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 182

Devanagari script

षड्जमध्यमगांधारग्रामत्रयविशारदाः । मूर्छनाभिश्च तानैश्च सुप्रयोगैः सुखप्रदम्

Transliteration

ṣaḍjamadhyamagāṃdhāragrāmatrayaviśāradāḥ | mūrchanābhiśca tānaiśca suprayogaiḥ sukhapradam

Translation

Ils étaient maîtres des trois grāmas musicaux—ṣaḍja, madhyama et gāndhāra—et, par les mūrchanās, les tānas et des emplois parfaits, ils réjouissaient le cœur.

Word by Word

• षड्जमध्यमगान्धारग्रामत्रयविशारदाः: expert in the three grāmas—ṣaḍja, madhyama, gāndhāra
• षड्जमध्यमगान्धारग्रामत्रयविशारदाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षड्ज + मध्यम + गान्धार + ग्राम + त्रय + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (षड्जादिषु ग्रामत्रये विशारदाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मूर्छनाभिः: with mūrchanās (melodic progressions)
• मूर्छनाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्छना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तानैः: with tones/notes
• तानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुप्रयोगैः: with excellent applications/performances
• सुप्रयोगैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + प्रयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सु-प्रयोगाः = उत्तमप्रयोगाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सुखप्रदम्: pleasant/giving joy
• सुखप्रदम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुखं प्रददाति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (कर्मपदं, पूर्वोक्तं गीतम्/गानम् प्रति)

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva) (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A celestial ensemble demonstrates mastery of the three grāmas; musical notes are visualized as flowing ribbons around them, forming a mandala that pleases the heart and rises toward Ravi’s radiance.

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara (Śiva)
• Gandharvas
• Ravi (Sūrya)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred sound and disciplined artistry are shown as offerings—music becomes a vehicle of devotion and auspicious joy.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, within whose māhātmya this celestial musical worship is described.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual rule; the verse emphasizes devotional gāna (singing) executed with purity and skill.