Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 54

Devanagari script

आचष्ट विजया पूर्वं सर्वान्देवान्यथाक्रमम् । सा च निरीक्षते पश्चात्तं विचार्य विमुञ्चति

Transliteration

ācaṣṭa vijayā pūrvaṃ sarvāndevānyathākramam | sā ca nirīkṣate paścāttaṃ vicārya vimuñcati

Translation

Vijayā mula-mula menunjukkan semua dewa menurut tertibnya. Kemudian dia memandangnya selepas itu—setelah menimbang, dia pun melepaskannya.

Word by Word

• आचष्ट: told/declared
• आचष्ट: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+√cakṣ (चक्ष्—कथने/दर्शने धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• विजया: Vijayā (a woman)
• विजया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vijayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvam (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (first/before)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘देवान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• यथाक्रमम्: in proper sequence
• यथाक्रमम्: Desha (Manner/extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā-krama (यथा + क्रम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (in due order)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• निरीक्षते: looks at/examines
• निरीक्षते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni+√īkṣ (ईक्ष्—दर्शने धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (afterwards)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• विचार्य: having considered
• विचार्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+√car (चर्—गत्यर्थे/विचारे धातु; ल्यप्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्यय (Gerund: having considered)

• विमुञ्चति: releases
• विमुञ्चति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+√muc (मुच्—मोचने धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Unspecified narrator within the māhātmya (Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa narrative voice)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra (Prabhāsa)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Vijayā gestures, introducing the gods one by one in proper sequence; afterward she studies ‘him’ carefully and then releases him, suggesting a ritualized identification and decision.

Characters & Entities

• Vijayā
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Right action follows discernment (vicāra); even strong impulses should be checked by reflection aligned with dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Vastrāpathakṣetra in Prabhāsa, whose māhātmya contextualizes the episode.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual instruction appears; the verse highlights recognition and discernment.