Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

ख्यातदोषा ह्यहिल्याऽपि भर्तृशप्ताऽभवत्तदा । स्थाप्येशानं पुनः स्त्रीत्वं लेभे पुत्रांस्तथोत्तमान्

Transliteration

khyātadoṣā hyahilyā'pi bhartṛśaptā'bhavattadā | sthāpyeśānaṃ punaḥ strītvaṃ lebhe putrāṃstathottamān

Translation

புகழ்பெற்ற குற்றம் கொண்ட அகல்யையும் அப்போது கணவனின் சாபத்தால் சபிக்கப்பட்டாள்; ஆனால் ஈசானன் (சிவன்) ஐ நிறுவி மீண்டும் பெண் தன்மையைப் பெற்று, சிறந்த புதல்வர்களையும் அடைந்தாள்।

Word by Word

• ख्यातदोषा: (she) of known fault
• ख्यातदोषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्यात (कृदन्त) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘ख्याताः दोषाः यस्याः सा’ (known-faulted)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—‘indeed/for’

• अहिल्या: Ahalyā
• अहिल्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—‘also/even’

• भर्तृशप्ता: cursed by (her) husband
• भर्तृशप्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) + शप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘भर्त्रा शप्ता’ (cursed by husband)

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• स्थाप्य: having स्थापित (established)
• स्थाप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; अर्थे—‘having established’

• ईशानम्: Īśāna (Śiva)
• ईशानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• स्त्रीत्वम्: womanhood
• स्त्रीत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• लेभे: obtained
• लेभे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• उत्तमान्: excellent
• उत्तमान्: Visheshana (Adjective of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (पुत्रान्)

Speaker

Deductive: Narratorial voice within Prabhāsakṣetramāhātmya (speaker not explicit in this verse)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ahilyeśvara / Īśāna at Prabhāsa

Type: temple

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Ahalyā, marked by curse and public reproach, performs Īśāna-pratiṣṭhā; the moment of restoration shows her regaining full womanhood and receiving blessings for noble progeny.

Characters & Entities

• Ahalyā
• Īśāna (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even grave stigma and curse can be overcome through sincere Śiva-devotion expressed as liṅga-pratiṣṭhā and worship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse supports the Prabhāsa-kṣetra context by presenting Śiva installation as a powerful remedy; the specific shrine implied is connected to Īśāna worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Installing Īśāna (Śiva) as a remedial, dharmic act leading to restoration and auspicious progeny.