Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

ग्रहीष्यंतं ततः सोममश्विनोः सत्तमं तदा । समीक्ष्य बलभिद्देव इदं वचनमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

grahīṣyaṃtaṃ tataḥ somamaśvinoḥ sattamaṃ tadā | samīkṣya balabhiddeva idaṃ vacanamabravīt

Translation

Alors, le voyant sur le point de prendre le Soma destiné aux Aśvins, Balabhid (Indra), le dieu, prononça ces paroles.

Word by Word

• ग्रहीष्यन्तम्: about to seize / intending to take
• ग्रहीष्यन्तम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त भविष्यत्कालिक-कृदन्त (future active participle; -iṣyant), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तदर्थक-अव्यय (then/from there)

• सोमम्: Soma
• सोमम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अश्विनोः: of the two Aśvins
• अश्विनोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• सत्तमम्: the best / most excellent
• सत्तमम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) सोमम् इत्यस्य

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• समीक्ष्य: having observed
• समीक्ष्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव-कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• बलभित्: the breaker of (Vṛtra’s) power (Indra)
• बलभित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलभिद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः = बलं भिनत्ति इति

• देव: O god
• देव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदं (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वचनम्: speech / words
• वचनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva) (narrating); quoted speaker: Indra

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Purāṇic interlocutor(s)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Cavana reaches for the soma meant for the Aśvins; Indra (Balabhid) notices and speaks sharply, the vajra visible, the twins watching with restrained hope.

Characters & Entities

• Aśvins
• Balabhid (Indra)
• Soma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is safeguarded through vigilance over sacred rites; even gods intervene when ritual order is threatened.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where the narrative of yajña and its sanctity is set.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The Soma portion assigned to the Aśvins is referenced, underscoring correct ritual entitlement.