Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 59

Devanagari script

पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षा मध्यक्षामाः शुचिस्मिताः । विवेकिनो नरास्तत्र शास्त्रव्रतसमन्विताः

Transliteration

padmapatraviśālākṣā madhyakṣāmāḥ śucismitāḥ | vivekino narāstatra śāstravratasamanvitāḥ

Translation

वहाँ विवेकी पुरुष रहते थे—कमल-पत्र जैसे विशाल नेत्रों वाले, कटि में सुकुमार, पवित्र मुस्कान वाले—जो शास्त्र-ज्ञान और व्रत-नियमों से युक्त थे।

Word by Word

• padma-patra-viśāla-akṣāḥ: having large lotus-petal-like eyes
• padma-patra-viśāla-akṣāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक) + viśāla (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (पद्मपत्रवत् विशालानि अक्षीणि येषाम्)

• madhya-kṣāmāḥ: slender/trim in the middle
• madhya-kṣāmāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (मध्येन क्शामाः/मध्यमकायाः)

• śuci-smitāḥ: with pure smiles
• śuci-smitāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक) + smita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुचि स्मितं येषाम्)

• vivekinaḥ: discerning, wise
• vivekinaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vivekin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• narāḥ: men, people
• narāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• śāstra-vrata-samanvitāḥ: endowed with scriptures and vows
• śāstra-vrata-samanvitāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (शास्त्रव्रतेन समन्विताः = endowed with scriptures and vows)

Speaker

Narrator

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Arbuda-kṣetra (dhārmic habitation zone)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A refined, dhārmic community on the mountain: men with calm faces and pure smiles, holding manuscripts or prayer beads, near lotus ponds and hermitages; beauty portrayed as sattvic, not sensual.

Characters & Entities

• Śāstra
• Vrata

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A sacred place is known not only by scenery but by its dharmic residents—people grounded in śāstra and vrata.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Mount Arbuda, portrayed as a habitat of disciplined and discerning practitioners.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vrata observance is referenced generally, without naming a specific vow.