Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

गभस्तिमानजः कालो मृत्युर्द्धाता प्रभाकरः । पृथिव्यापश्च तेजश्च खं वायुश्च परायणः

Transliteration

gabhastimānajaḥ kālo mṛtyurddhātā prabhākaraḥ | pṛthivyāpaśca tejaśca khaṃ vāyuśca parāyaṇaḥ

Translation

ସେଇ ଗଭସ୍ତିମାନ, ଅଜ, କାଳ, ମୃତ୍ୟୁ, ଧାତା ଓ ପ୍ରଭାକର। ସେଇ ପୃଥିବୀ, ଜଳ, ତେଜ, ଖମ୍ବ, ବାୟୁ—ପରମ ଆଶ୍ରୟ।

Word by Word

• गभस्तिमान्: having rays
• गभस्तिमान्: Apposition/Name-list (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गभस्ति-मत् (प्रातिपदिक; गभस्ति + मतुप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (सूर्यादि-नाम)

• अजः: Unborn
• अजः: Apposition/Name-list (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Apposition/Name-list (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मृत्युः: Death
• मृत्युः: Apposition/Name-list (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धाता: Creator, Sustainer
• धाता: Apposition/Name-list (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रभाकरः: maker of light
• प्रभाकरः: Apposition/Name-list (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा-कर (प्रातिपदिक; प्रभा + कर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पृथिवी: Earth
• पृथिवी: Apposition/Name-list (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आपः: Waters
• आपः: Apposition/Name-list (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (नित्यबहुवचन)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-बोधक)

• तेजः: splendour, energy
• तेजः: Apposition/Name-list (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-बोधक)

• खम्: sky, ether
• खम्: Apposition/Name-list (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वायुः: wind
• वायुः: Apposition/Name-list (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-बोधक)

• परायणः: supreme refuge / final goal
• परायणः: Apposition/Name-list (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Śiva

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A cosmic hymn scene: the Lord as a radiant axis while the five elements—earth as mountain/ground, waters as waves, fire as flame, space as starry void, wind as swirling currents—circle him; time and death appear as subtle shadow-forms dissolving into light.

Characters & Entities

• Sūrya (as cosmic principle)
• Pañca-bhūta (earth, water, fire, space, wind)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Sun is praised not merely as a luminary but as the cosmic order—time, mortality, sustenance, and the elemental fabric of the world—worthy of reverent refuge.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The stotra is situated in Prabhāsa-kṣetra, specifically the Cyavanārka tradition of Sūrya worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Continuation of the 108-name recitation, presenting theological identifications that support meditative praise.