Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

दूतं कलिंगदैत्याय त्यज त्वं त्रिदिवं द्रुतम् । स गत्वा बाष्कलिं दैत्यं सामपूर्वं वचोऽब्रवीत्

Transliteration

dūtaṃ kaliṃgadaityāya tyaja tvaṃ tridivaṃ drutam | sa gatvā bāṣkaliṃ daityaṃ sāmapūrvaṃ vaco'bravīt

Translation

ਉਸ ਨੇ ਕਲਿੰਗ ਦਾਨਵ ਲਈ ਦੂਤ ਭੇਜਿਆ: “ਤੂੰ ਤ੍ਰਿਦਿਵ ਨੂੰ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਛੱਡ ਦੇ।” ਉਹ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਦੈਤ ਬਾਸ਼ਕਲੀ ਨੂੰ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸਾਂਤਵਨਾਪੂਰਕ ਬਚਨ ਕਹਿਣ ਲੱਗਾ।

Word by Word

• दूतम्: a messenger
• दूतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कलिंगदैत्याय: to the Kaliṅga-daitya
• कलिंगदैत्याय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलिंग-दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कलिंगदेशीयः दैत्यः)

• त्यज: abandon/leave
• त्यज: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 2nd person pronoun

• त्रिदिवम्: heaven
• त्रिदिवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Desha-Kala (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative) = quickly

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त absolutive/gerund)

• बाष्कलिम्: Bāṣkali
• बाष्कलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाष्कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; proper name

• दैत्यम्: the Daitya
• दैत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to ‘बाष्कलिम्’

• सामपूर्वम्: with conciliation first
• सामपूर्वम्: Desha-Kala (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम-पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = with conciliatory words first/preceded by sāman

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Narrator (contextually Pulastya continuing the account)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: King (pārthiva) within the story frame

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A messenger is dispatched with the command to the Kaliṅga dānava; he approaches Bāṣkali and begins with conciliatory speech, hands folded, posture respectful yet firm.

Characters & Entities

• Kaliṅga Dānava
• Bāṣkali
• messenger (dūta)
• the Goddess (Devī/Śrīmātā)
• Tridiva (Svarga)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma employs measured counsel before force; even divine correction begins with sāma (peaceful persuasion).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The setting remains within the Arbuda-khaṇḍa stream of sacred geography, but this verse highlights the heavenly dispute and the messenger’s mission.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse describes a diplomatic message and approach.