Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 59

Devanagari script

ददर्श तादृशीं देवीं कण्ठपाशकरां विभुः । अधस्तात्तरुशाखायां निमीलितविलोचनाम्

Transliteration

dadarśa tādṛśīṃ devīṃ kaṇṭhapāśakarāṃ vibhuḥ | adhastāttaruśākhāyāṃ nimīlitavilocanām

Translation

ପ୍ରଭୁ ସେହି ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ଦେବୀଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖିଲେ—କଣ୍ଠରେ ପାଶ ଧାରଣ କରି, ବୃକ୍ଷଶାଖା ତଳେ ଦଣ୍ଡାୟମାନ, ନୟନ ନିମୀଳିତ।

Word by Word

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद = "saw"

• tādṛśīm: such
• tādṛśīm: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tādṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण = "such/like that" (qualifies devīm)

• devīm: the देवी (goddess/lady)
• devīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन = accusative

• kaṇṭha-pāśa-karām: with a noose for her neck
• kaṇṭha-pāśa-karām: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (कण्ठे पाशः, तं करोति/धारयति इति) = "having a noose at/for the neck" (qualifies devīm)

• vibhuḥ: the Lord
• vibhuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन = nominative; epithet

• adhastāt: below
• adhastāt: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhastāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक) = "below/beneath"

• taru-śākhāyām: on a tree branch
• taru-śākhāyām: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taru (प्रातिपदिक) + śākhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तरोः शाखा) = "on the tree-branch"; locative

• nimīlita-vilocanām: with closed eyes
• nimīlita-vilocanām: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√mīl (धातु) + vilocana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (निमीलित) + तत्पुरुषः (निमीलिते विलोचने यस्याः) = "with eyes closed" (qualifies devīm)

Speaker

Prahlāda (narration continues)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Under a low tree-branch in the Dvārakā landscape, a goddess stands with eyes closed, a noose at her neck; the Lord beholds her, the moment suspended between death and rescue.

Characters & Entities

• vibhu (the Lord—Kṛṣṇa/Viṣṇu implied)
• devī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even at the final brink, divine grace can intervene; despair is met by the Lord’s protective presence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The larger frame is Dvārakā-māhātmya; this verse is a dramatic moment within that sacred account.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.