Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

ततः सुरगणाः सर्व ऋषयो वेदपारगाः । अस्तुवन्विविधैः सूक्तैर्वेदोक्तैः शशिशेखरम्

Transliteration

tataḥ suragaṇāḥ sarva ṛṣayo vedapāragāḥ | astuvanvividhaiḥ sūktairvedoktaiḥ śaśiśekharam

Translation

അപ്പോൾ എല്ലാ ദേവഗണങ്ങളും വേദപാരംഗതരായ ഋഷിമാരും ചേർന്ന്, വേദോക്തമായ നാനാവിധ സൂക്തങ്ങളാൽ ശശിശേഖരൻ (ചന്ദ്രമൗലി ശിവൻ)നെ സ്തുതിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• सुरगणाः: groups of gods
• सुरगणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुराणां गणाः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वेदपारगाः: versed in the Vedas
• वेदपारगाः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य पारगाः = who have gone to the far shore of the Veda)

• अस्तुवन्: praised
• अस्तुवन्: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं (सन्दर्भे), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘by various’ (agreeing with सूक्तैः)

• सूक्तैः: with hymns
• सूक्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वेदोक्तैः: Veda-declared
• वेदोक्तैः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदेन उक्तैः = stated in the Veda)

• शशिशेखरम्: the moon-crested one (Śiva)
• शशिशेखरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशि (प्रातिपदिक) + शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-सम्भाव्य (शशिः शेखरः यस्य = moon-crested)

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Audience within the frame (devas/ṛṣis; and by extension the śrotā)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devas and great ṛṣis stand in reverent rows, hands folded, chanting Vedic hymns to Śaśiśekhara; above them, Śiva’s moon-crested form radiates calm amid surrounding turmoil.

Characters & Entities

• Śaśiśekhara
• Sura-gaṇa
• Ṛṣi
• Veda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the highest gods and Veda-knowing sages approach Śiva through reverent praise, showing devotion as the gateway to divine grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsakṣetra (Prabhāsa), celebrated in the Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa as a foremost Śaiva sacred geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Stuti (hymnic praise), specifically Veda-based hymns offered to Śiva.