Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

संसारभयभीतानां दुःखितानां जनार्दन । शत्रुभिः परिभूतानां शरणं भव केशव

Transliteration

saṃsārabhayabhītānāṃ duḥkhitānāṃ janārdana | śatrubhiḥ paribhūtānāṃ śaraṇaṃ bhava keśava

Translation

ഹേ ജനാർദന! സംസാരഭയത്തിൽ ഭീതരായവർക്കും ദുഃഖിതർക്കും ശത്രുക്കളാൽ പീഡിതർക്കും—ശരണം ആകണമേ, ഹേ കേശവ।

Word by Word

• संसारभयभीतानाम्: of those frightened by fear of worldly existence
• संसारभयभीतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसार-भय-भीत (कृदन्त; √भी (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समूहवाचक), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण—‘संसारभयेन भीताः’

• दुःखितानाम्: of the afflicted
• दुःखितानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• जनार्दन: O Janārdana
• जनार्दन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• शत्रुभिः: by enemies
• शत्रुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• परिभूतानाम्: of those humiliated/overpowered
• परिभूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-भूत (कृदन्त; परि-√भू (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण—‘परिभूताः’

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद (predicate object)

• भव: become / be
• भव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/imperative), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• केशव: O Keśava
• केशव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

Speaker

Durvāsā (prayer addressed to Viṣṇu)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A frightened, emaciated brāhmaṇa-devotee with folded hands prays to Keśava/Janārdana in Dvārakā; the sea and city-gates behind; the Lord’s calm, protective presence radiates assurance.

Characters & Entities

• Janārdana
• Keśava
• Śatru (enemies)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Taking refuge in the Lord is the dharmic response to worldly fear, suffering, and persecution.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The larger narrative belongs to Dvārakā Māhātmya; this verse is a universal prayer rather than a tīrtha-description.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No external rite; the prescription is inner—śaraṇāgati (surrender) through prayer.