Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

भवतां तीर्थराजानां महाराजस्त्वियं शुभा । द्वारका सेवनीया वै स्थीयतां स्वेच्छया बहिः

Transliteration

bhavatāṃ tīrtharājānāṃ mahārājastviyaṃ śubhā | dvārakā sevanīyā vai sthīyatāṃ svecchayā bahiḥ

Translation

ഹേ തീർത്ഥരാജന്മാരുടെ മഹാരാജന്മാരേ! ഈ ശുഭ ദ്വാരക നിങ്ങളുടെയധിരാജ്ഞിയാണ്. ദ്വാരകയെ നിശ്ചയമായും സേവിക്കണം; അതിനാൽ നിങ്ങളുടെ ഇഷ്ടപ്രകാരം പുറത്തുതന്നെ നിലകൊള്ളുക।

Word by Word

• भवताम्: of you (respected)
• भवताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; आदरार्थे (honorific)

• तीर्थराजानाम्: of the kings of tīrthas
• तीर्थराजानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तीर्थाणां राजा)

• महाराजः: the great king
• महाराजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् राजा)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुभा: auspicious
• शुभा: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• द्वारका: Dvārakā
• द्वारका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सेवनीया: should be served/visited
• सेवनीया: Vidhyartha (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् (धातु) → सेवनीय (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त—अनीयर्/तव्यत्-अर्थक (gerundive: 'to be served'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• स्थीयताम्: stay (please remain)
• स्थीयताम्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (let it be stayed/you should stay)

• स्वेच्छया: by your own will
• स्वेच्छया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य इच्छा)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Desha-adhikarana (Locative adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

Speaker

Maheśa (Śiva) (deduced from the next verse: “maheśavacanaṃ śrutvā…”)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Tīrtha-rājas (personified sacred fords/places)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A regal personification of Dvārakā as a queen-city, while assembled tīrthas are addressed as kings; a boundary line or outer precinct is indicated, suggesting respectful stationing outside the inner sanctum-city.

Characters & Entities

• Dvārakā
• Tīrthas (personified sacred fords)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the greatest tīrthas acknowledge a higher sanctity in Dvārakā; humility and reverent service to the dhāma is itself a form of dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā, praised as an auspicious supreme pilgrimage-dhāma within the Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa’s Dvārakā-māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Sevā (devotional service/attendance) to Dvārakā and residing respectfully “outside” her main precincts, implying regulated approach and reverence.