Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

आनर्त्तसारं सौम्यं च तथा भुवनभूषणम् । दिव्यं पांचनदं पुण्यमादिगुह्यं महोदयम्

Transliteration

ānarttasāraṃ saumyaṃ ca tathā bhuvanabhūṣaṇam | divyaṃ pāṃcanadaṃ puṇyamādiguhyaṃ mahodayam

Translation

ഇത് ‘ആനർത്ത്തസാര’ എന്നും, ‘സൗമ്യ’ എന്നും; അതുപോലെ ‘ഭുവനഭൂഷണം’ എന്നും വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. ഇത് ദിവ്യവും പുണ്യവുമായ ‘പാഞ്ചനദ’, ‘ആദിഗുഹ്യ’, ‘മഹോദയം’ എന്നീ നാമങ്ങളാലും പ്രസിദ്ധം.

Word by Word

• ānartta-sāram: the essence of Ānartta
• ānartta-sāram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānartta (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (आनर्त्तस्य सारम्)

• saumyam: auspicious/pleasant
• saumyam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'likewise/also')

• bhuvana-bhūṣaṇam: ornament of the world
• bhuvana-bhūṣaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvana (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (भुवनस्य भूषणम्)

• divyam: divine
• divyam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• pāñcanadam: Pāñcanada (land of five rivers)
• pāñcanadam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + nada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—द्विगु (पञ्च नदाः यस्मिन्/पञ्चनदम्)

• puṇyam: holy
• puṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ādi-guhyam: the primordial secret
• ādi-guhyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + guhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—कर्मधारय (आदिः गुह्यः/आदिगुह्यम् = prime secret)

• mahodayam: great prosperity/auspicious rise
• mahodayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् उदयः)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (epithets: Ānarttasāra, Saumya, Bhuvanabhūṣaṇa, Pāñcanada, Ādiguhya, Mahodaya)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Implied same addressee as surrounding verses (a देवी/प्रिय/सुरसुन्दरी addressed)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A cosmic map-like vision of Prabhāsa with six name-banners floating above the kṣetra; each banner radiates a distinct hue—saumya coolness, mahodaya golden dawn, ādiguḥya deep indigo mystery.

Characters & Entities

• Ānarttasāra
• Saumya
• Bhuvanabhūṣaṇa
• Pāñcanada
• Ādiguhya
• Mahodaya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A tīrtha’s many names express its many spiritual functions—beauty, auspiciousness, secrecy, and upliftment—revealed through Purāṇic memory.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, described through a litany of its revered names.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is prescribed; the verse transmits nāma-māhātmya (the sanctity of the place through its names).