Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तस्तु तदा दैत्यः प्रत्युवाच जनार्द्दनम् । अग्निष्टोमादिभिर्यज्ञैवेदाभ्यासैरनेकधा

Transliteration

ityuktastu tadā daityaḥ pratyuvāca janārddanam | agniṣṭomādibhiryajñaivedābhyāsairanekadhā

Translation

Setelah ditegur demikian, daitya itu pun menjawab Janārdana: “Dengan yajña seperti Agniṣṭoma dan dengan latihan serta pengulangan Veda dalam pelbagai cara…”

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यन्त-निपात

• उक्तः: addressed / spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; 'having been spoken to'

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + उद् + √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

• जनार्दनम्: Janardana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (जनान् अर्दयति इति/जनस्य अर्दनः); पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अग्निष्टोमादिभिः: with Agniṣṭoma and other (rites)
• अग्निष्टोमादिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निष्टोम + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अग्निष्टोम-आदि-समाहारः; तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (instrumental: 'by/with Agniṣṭoma etc.')

• यज्ञैः: with sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• वेदाभ्यासैः: with practice/study of the Vedas
• वेदाभ्यासैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य अभ्यासः); पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• अनेकधा: in many ways
• अनेकधा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'in many ways')

Speaker

Daitya (Tala) to Viṣṇu (Janārdana)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa Kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/assembly (typical frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The demon, still subdued, speaks with animated hands as if reciting a list; faint sacrificial imagery (altar, fire) appears symbolically behind him, indicating Agniṣṭoma and Vedic study.

Characters & Entities

• Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• Agniṣṭoma-yajña
• Veda-abhyāsa
• Daitya (Tala)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Meritorious acts like yajña and Vedic discipline are acknowledged as powerful means—yet their fruit depends on inner intent, which the dialogue will clarify.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative belongs to Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya, where spiritual merit and divine encounter are thematically emphasized.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Agniṣṭoma and other yajñas, along with Vedic study (vedābhyāsa), are referenced as merit-producing disciplines.