Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 115

Devanagari script

केचिन्मं त्रस्य जाप्येन केचिच्च तपसा शुभे । तीर्थे संन्यसनैः केचित्केचिद्भक्त्यनुसारतः

Transliteration

kecinmaṃ trasya jāpyena kecicca tapasā śubhe | tīrthe saṃnyasanaiḥ kecitkecidbhaktyanusārataḥ

Translation

ചിലർ മന്ത്രജപത്താൽ, ചിലർ—ഹേ ശുഭേ!—തപസ്സാൽ (ആ ലക്ഷ്യം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു). ചിലർ തീർത്ഥത്തിൽ സന്ന്യാസം സ്വീകരിച്ചതാൽ, ചിലർ ഭക്തിമാർഗാനുസാരമായി (അത് നേടുന്നു).

Word by Word

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्रस्य: fear (you)
• त्रस्य: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); आज्ञार्थ/विधिलिङ्गार्थे प्रयोगः (imperative sense)

• जाप्येन: by muttered prayer (japa)
• जाप्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाप्य (प्रातिपदिक) < जप् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुभे: in the auspicious (place)
• शुभे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तीर्थे: in the sacred ford/place of pilgrimage
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संन्यसनैः: by acts of renunciation
• संन्यसनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संन्यसन (प्रातिपदिक) < सम्-नि-√अस्/√न्यस् (धातु-सम्बन्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भक्त्यनुसारतः: according to devotion
• भक्त्यनुसारतः: Hetu/Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भक्ति + अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'according to'); अर्थे—अनुसार (in accordance with)

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sequence-like tableau: one pilgrim counts rudrākṣa beads in japa; another performs tapas (fasting, standing vigil); a renunciate takes vows near the tīrtha; a devotee sings with folded hands—Prabhāsa’s shrine and sea behind them.

Characters & Entities

• Tīrtha (Prabhāsa)
• Mantra
• Bhakti

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇic vision accommodates diverse sādhana—japa, tapas, renunciation, and devotion—each capable of leading to the highest end.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, implied as the tīrtha where these practices become especially fruitful.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Mantra-japa, tapas (austerity), tīrtha-based renunciation (saṃnyāsa), and bhakti.