Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 155

Devanagari script

सर्वकारणभूताय निष्ठाय ज्ञान चेतसाम् । नमः सूर्यस्वरूपाय प्रकाशालक्ष्यरूपिणे

Transliteration

sarvakāraṇabhūtāya niṣṭhāya jñāna cetasām | namaḥ sūryasvarūpāya prakāśālakṣyarūpiṇe

Translation

સર્વ કારણોના મૂળભૂત, જ્ઞાનનિષ્ઠ ચિત્તવાળાઓના અચલ આધારને નમસ્કાર. સૂર્ય-સ્વરૂપ, પ્રકાશમય—તથાપિ અલક્ષ્ય સ્વરૂપ ધરાવતા પ્રભુને નમસ્કાર.

Word by Word

• सर्वकारणभूताय: to the one who is the cause of all
• सर्वकारणभूताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-कारण-भूत (प्रातिपदिक; भूत = √भू (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण स्तुत्यर्थे—“सर्वकारणं भूतो यस्य/यः” इति

• निष्ठाय: to steadfastness / to firm devotion
• निष्ठाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• ज्ञान: knowledge
• ज्ञान: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन ‘ज्ञानचेतसाम्’ इत्यत्र

• चेतसाम्: of minds
• चेतसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayojana (Salutation formula)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (salutatory particle)

• सूर्यस्वरूपाय: to the one whose form is the Sun
• सूर्यस्वरूपाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य-स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• प्रकाशालक्ष्यरूपिणे: to the one whose form is manifest yet unperceivable
• प्रकाशालक्ष्यरूपिणे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकाश-अलक्ष्य-रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; ‘रूपिन्’ इति तद्धितान्त-विशेषण

Speaker

Vālakhilyas (continuation of their hymn)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: The praised deity (Sūrya-svarūpa, transcendent)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At dawn on the Prabhāsa coast, the sun rises as a blazing disc; yet behind it a subtle, formless radiance suggests the ‘unseen form’ beyond sensory grasp. Sages stand steady, eyes half-closed, embodying jñāna-niṣṭhā.

Characters & Entities

• Sūrya
• Bhāsvat (Sūrya)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The visible sun symbolizes the invisible Supreme: light is seen, but its ultimate source is transcendent—guiding seekers from perception to realization.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse belongs to Prabhāsa-kṣetra māhātmya, associating the place with profound Sūrya-tattva contemplation.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite; the verse itself is a namaskāra suitable for devotional recitation.