Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

तौ चात्र क्षेत्रसंस्थानां लोकानां भ्रमविभ्रमैः । योजयंति सदा चित्तं विकल्पानैक्यसंकुलम्

Transliteration

tau cātra kṣetrasaṃsthānāṃ lokānāṃ bhramavibhramaiḥ | yojayaṃti sadā cittaṃ vikalpānaikyasaṃkulam

Translation

Et ici, par leur trouble et leur illusion, ces deux-là embrouillent sans cesse l’esprit des habitants de la région sacrée, le rendant encombré d’une multitude d’options vacillantes.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), द्विवचनम् (Dual)

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

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place)

• क्षेत्रसंस्थानाम्: of the configurations/arrangements of the sacred places
• क्षेत्रसंस्थानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र + संस्थान (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• भ्रमविभ्रमैः: by delusions and confusions
• भ्रमविभ्रमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रम + विभ्रम (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• योजयन्ति: they yoke/engage
• योजयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of time)

• चित्तम्: mind
• चित्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• विकल्पानैक्यसंकुलम्: crowded with alternatives and discord
• विकल्पानैक्यसंकुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकल्प + अनैक्य + संकुल (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम् (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying) चित्तम्

Speaker

Śiva (continuation of the same discourse to Devī)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (inner precincts)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devī

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two subtle attendant-figures cast a net of confusion over pilgrims: thought-bubbles of many choices swirl around their heads; the sacred temple stands steady in the background, contrasting inner turbulence with outer sanctity.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhrama
• Saṁbhrama
• Prabhāsa Kṣetra
• Someśvara (implicit)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even in holy places, inner distraction and doubt can obstruct devotion; steadiness of mind is essential for receiving kṣetra-merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa Kṣetra (Somnātha region), describing subtle obstacles faced by those living there.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is stated; the emphasis is on mental discipline and avoiding delusion while residing in the kṣetra.