Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

तत पितामहं जग्मु स्तस्मै सर्वं न्यवेदयन् । प्रलयस्येव चिह्नानि दृश्यन्ते परमेश्वर

Transliteration

tata pitāmahaṃ jagmu stasmai sarvaṃ nyavedayan | pralayasyeva cihnāni dṛśyante parameśvara

Translation

ਫਿਰ ਉਹ ਪਿਤਾਮਹ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਕੋਲ ਗਏ ਅਤੇ ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਵੇਦਨ ਕੀਤਾ: “ਹੇ ਪਰਮੇਸ਼ਵਰ, ਪ੍ਰਲਯ ਵਰਗੇ ਚਿੰਨ੍ਹ ਦਿਸ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ!”

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla/Anantarya (Sequence/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पितामहम्: the Grandfather (Brahmā)
• पितामहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न्यवेदयन्: reported, informed
• न्यवेदयन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √विद् (धातु; causative √विद् → वेदयति)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; णिजन्त

• प्रलयस्य: of dissolution
• प्रलयस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• इव: as if, like
• इव: Upamā (Comparison/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• चिह्नानि: signs, marks
• चिह्नानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• दृश्यन्ते: are seen, appear
• दृश्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• परमेश्वर: O Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परमः ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Sūta (deduced; includes quoted address)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (frame)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: narādhipa (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A procession of devas ascends to Brahmā’s lotus-throne, hands folded, urgently narrating the appearance of pralaya-like signs; Brahmā listens with grave stillness.

Characters & Entities

• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Parameśvara (address)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In crisis, the tradition emphasizes seeking higher guidance and restoring cosmic balance through rightful knowledge and action.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Arbuda-kṣetra narrative context continues; the site’s māhātmya is built through such divine consultations.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it narrates the devas’ appeal for counsel.