Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

बुद्धीन्द्रियाणि पञ्चैव पञ्च कर्मेंद्रियाणि च । एकादशं मनो विद्धि महा भूतानि पंच च

Transliteration

buddhīndriyāṇi pañcaiva pañca karmeṃdriyāṇi ca | ekādaśaṃ mano viddhi mahā bhūtāni paṃca ca

Translation

Qu’on connaisse les cinq organes de perception et les cinq organes d’action ; qu’on sache que le mental (manas) est le onzième ; et il y a aussi les cinq grands éléments (mahābhūtas).

Word by Word

• बुद्धीन्द्रियाणि: the sense-organs of knowledge
• बुद्धीन्द्रियाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बुद्धेः इन्द्रियाणि = ज्ञानेंद्रियाणि)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; बहुवचनार्थे (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याशब्दः; बहुवचनार्थे

• कर्मेन्द्रियाणि: the organs of action
• कर्मेन्द्रियाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कर्मणः इन्द्रियाणि = कर्मेंद्रियाणि)

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

• एकादशम्: the eleventh (i.e., total eleven)
• एकादशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-नाम

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• विद्धि: know (understand)
• विद्धि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महा: great
• महा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (भूतानि इति)

• भूतानि: elements (bhūtas)
• भूतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याशब्दः; बहुवचनार्थे

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

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A seated ascetic-teacher in a tīrtha grove near the western sea explains the indriyas, mind, and five elements; subtle icons of ear/skin/eye/tongue/nose, hand/foot/speech/excretion/generation, a luminous mind-lotus, and the five elements (earth-water-fire-air-ether) appear as a mandala around him.

Characters & Entities

• buddhīndriya
• karmendriya
• manas
• mahābhūta

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

By classifying the senses, actions, mind, and elements, the yogin gains clarity to witness them rather than be ruled by them.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The enumeration is taught in the context of Vastrāpatha-kṣetra Māhātmya (Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa), linking sacred place and sacred knowledge.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual instruction; it is a doctrinal listing used for contemplation and discrimination (viveka).