Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

त्रीन्वारांस्तु त्रिशूलेन दिग्विदिक्षु क्षिपेद्बलिम् । बलिं गृह्णन्त्विमे देवा आदित्या वसवस्तथा

Transliteration

trīnvārāṃstu triśūlena digvidikṣu kṣipedbalim | baliṃ gṛhṇantvime devā ādityā vasavastathā

Translation

മൂന്നു പ്രാവശ്യം ത്രിശൂലംകൊണ്ട് ദിക്കുകളിലും ഉപദിക്കുകളിലും ബലി എറിയണം। ‘ഈ ദേവന്മാർ ബലി സ്വീകരിക്കട്ടെ; ആദിത്യരും വസുക്കളും അതുപോലെ.’

Word by Word

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• वारान्: times
• वारान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधबोधक-अव्यय (particle)

• त्रिशूलेन: with a trident
• त्रिशूलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (त्रीणि शूलानि यस्य/त्रिशूल)

• दिग्विदिक्षु: in the directions and sub-directions
• दिग्विदिक्षु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् + विदिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (directions and intermediate directions)

• क्षिपेत्: should throw/cast
• क्षिपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• बलिम्: offering
• बलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• बलिम्: the offering
• बलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गृह्णन्तु: let (them) accept
• गृह्णन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• इमे: these
• इमे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• आदित्याः: Ādityas
• आदित्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; देवगण-नाम

• वसवः: Vasus
• वसवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; देवगण-नाम

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यताबोधक-अव्यय (adverb/particle: 'also/likewise')

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A priest holds a triśūla and casts small portions of bali to each direction and intermediate direction, repeating thrice; the air feels charged as invocations to Ādityas and Vasus are spoken, forming an invisible protective mandala.

Characters & Entities

• Triśūla
• Devas
• Ādityas
• Vasus

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred rites acknowledge cosmic guardianship in all directions, affirming order (ṛta/dharma) around the worshipper and the kṣetra.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, whose Māhātmya preserves such direction-guarding ritual details.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dik-bali: thrice casting offerings into the directions with a trident while invoking devas, Ādityas, and Vasus.