Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 47

Devanagari script

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा शुभान्येव समा चरत् । काष्ठकुड्यशिलाभूत ऊर्द्ध्वबाहुर्महाद्युतिः

Transliteration

karmaṇā manasā vācā śubhānyeva samā carat | kāṣṭhakuḍyaśilābhūta ūrddhvabāhurmahādyutiḥ

Translation

Par l’acte, la pensée et la parole, il ne suivit que la voie propice, avec une constance parfaite. Devenu tel le bois, le mur ou la pierre—immobile—il se tint les bras levés, flamboyant d’une grande splendeur.

Word by Word

• कर्मणा: by deed
• कर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• शुभानि: auspicious (acts)
• शुभानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्म (आचरति इत्यर्थे)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): अवधारण—‘only/indeed’

• समा: evenly, with equanimity
• समा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्—‘equally/with evenness’ (पाठभेद: समं)

• चरत्: he practiced, he acted
• चरत्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• काष्ठकुड्यशिलाभूतः: become like wood, wall, and stone
• काष्ठकुड्यशिलाभूतः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + कुड्य (प्रातिपदिक) + शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (काष्ठ-कुड्य-शिला) + भूत (भू-धातोः क्त): पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण—(अत्रिः) ‘as if become wood/wall/stone’

• ऊर्द्ध्वबाहुः: with arms raised upward
• ऊर्द्ध्वबाहुः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्द्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: ‘ऊर्द्ध्वौ बाहू यस्य’ (one whose arms are raised); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महाद्युतिः: of great radiance
• महाद्युतिः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: ‘महती द्युतिः’ (great splendor); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa Māhātmya narrative style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devī

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Atri stands motionless like wood/stone, arms raised, radiant; the scene emphasizes ascetic heat (tapas) and luminous aura against the sacred landscape.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma becomes complete when purity is maintained in action, thought, and speech, supported by steadfast austerity (tapas).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsakṣetra (Prabhāsa), in the Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa’s Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is prescribed here; the verse highlights the discipline of tapas and unwavering auspicious conduct.