Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 87

Devanagari script

तथान्ये गणपाः सर्वे मदाज्ञावशवर्तिनः । क्षेत्रं रक्षंति देवेशि तेषां नामानि मे शृणु

Transliteration

tathānye gaṇapāḥ sarve madājñāvaśavartinaḥ | kṣetraṃ rakṣaṃti deveśi teṣāṃ nāmāni me śṛṇu

Translation

അതുപോലെ മറ്റു എല്ലാ ഗണപതികളും എന്റെ ആജ്ഞയ്ക്ക് വിധേയരായി, ഹേ ദേവേശി, ഈ പുണ്യക്ഷേത്രത്തെ കാത്തുരക്ഷിക്കുന്നു; അവരുടെ നാമങ്ങൾ എന്നിൽ നിന്നു കേൾക്കുക.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/so)

• अन्ये: other
• अन्ये: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• गणपाः: gaṇa-leaders/attendants
• गणपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• मदाज्ञावशवर्तिनः: obedient to my command
• मदाज्ञावशवर्तिनः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा + वश + वर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिकाः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मद्-आज्ञा-वशे वर्तन्ते ये)

• क्षेत्रम्: the field/region
• क्षेत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• रक्षन्ति: protect
• रक्षन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवेशि: O queen/lady of the gods
• देवेशि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8), एकवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• नामानि: names
• नामानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (enclitic)

• शृणु: hear/listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Command/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Śiva (addressing Devī/Pārvatī)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devēśī (Pārvatī/Devī)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A goddess addressed as Devēśī listens as a divine speaker enumerates gaṇa-chiefs who guard Prabhāsa; the kṣetra appears as a luminous mandala with boundary-gates watched by attendants.

Characters & Entities

• Devī (Pārvatī)
• Gaṇapa
• Śiva-gaṇas
• Prabhāsakṣetra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The holiness of Prabhāsa is upheld by divine order: Śiva’s gaṇas actively guard the kṣetra, emphasizing its exceptional spiritual jurisdiction.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsakṣetra, presented as a protected sacred domain with appointed guardians.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct practice is stated; the verse introduces a forthcoming catalog of guardian names, useful for kṣetra-smaraṇa (remembrance) and devotional recitation.