Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

तच्छुत्वा वचनं तस्य ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः । प्रणिपत्य च देवेशं प्रस्थितास्ते तपोधनाः

Transliteration

tacchutvā vacanaṃ tasya brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ | praṇipatya ca deveśaṃ prasthitāste tapodhanāḥ

Translation

至上の自己たるブラフマーのその御言葉を聞き、苦行の富を備えた修行者たちは、神々の主にひれ伏して礼拝し、旅立った。

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

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

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• परमात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परमः आत्मा)

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down
• प्रणिपत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नि-√पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

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

• देवेशम्: the Lord of the gods
• देवेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानाम् ईशः)

• प्रस्थिताः: departed, set out
• प्रस्थिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः (set out)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तपोधनाः: those rich in austerity (ascetics)
• तपोधनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (तपः धनं येषां ते)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of austere sages, hair matted and garments simple, listen to Brahmā’s command; they bow to the Lord of gods and begin their journey, staffs in hand, faces serene.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Deveśa (Lord of gods—here Brahmā as addressed)
• Tapodhanāḥ (ascetics/sages)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Right action begins with śravaṇa (listening), followed by praṇipāta (reverent surrender), and then purposeful journeying in dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific site is praised in this verse; it narrates the sages’ departure within the Dvārakā-māhātmya frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Praṇipāta (prostration) is shown as a devotional protocol before undertaking a sacred mission.