Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

पालयामास धर्मात्मा तानजान्व्याधिरूपिणः । औषधीर्विविधाकारास्तेषां याः पुष्टिहेतवः

Transliteration

pālayāmāsa dharmātmā tānajānvyādhirūpiṇaḥ | auṣadhīrvividhākārāsteṣāṃ yāḥ puṣṭihetavaḥ

Translation

ആ ധർമ്മാത്മ രാജാവ് വ്യാധിരൂപം ധരിച്ചിരുന്ന ആ ആടുകളെ പരിപാലിച്ചു; അവയുടെ വളർച്ചക്കും ശക്തിക്കും കാരണമായ വിവിധ ഔഷധികളാൽ അവയെ പോഷിപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• पालयामास: protected/maintained
• पालयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-minded
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: धर्म + आत्मन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘धर्मः आत्मा यस्य’ (righteous-souled)

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अजान्: goats
• अजान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• व्याधिरूपिणः: in the form of disease (disease-like)
• व्याधिरूपिणः: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याधि-रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: व्याधि + रूपिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘व्याधिरूपं येषां/व्याधिरूपिणः’ (having the form of disease)

• औषधीः: medicinal herbs
• औषधीः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विविधाकाराः: of various forms
• विविधाकाराः: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध-आकार (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: विविध + आकार
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘विविधः आकारः यासाम्’ (of various forms)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• याः: which (those that)
• याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (relative pronoun)

• पुष्टिहेतवः: causes of nourishment
• पुष्टिहेतवः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्टि-हेतु (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: पुष्टि + हेतु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पुष्टेः हेतवः’ (causes of nourishment)

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva) (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsakṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Purāṇic interlocutor(s); immediate narrative focus on the king

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The righteous king tends a herd of goats symbolizing diseases, administering varied herbs; the scene blends pastoral calm with allegorical gravity, set within the sacred precincts of Prabhāsa.

Characters & Entities

• the King
• goats (ajāḥ)
• auṣadhi (herbs)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma expresses itself as protection and care—even for embodiments of suffering—transforming affliction through righteous conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader episode belongs to Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya, situating the king’s dharmic action within Prabhāsa’s sacred field.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal rite is stated; the verse emphasizes practical dharma—nourishing and sustaining through appropriate remedies (auṣadhi).