Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

संप्राप्तस्तां पुरीं रम्यां तव राजकुलं गतः । ददर्शायांतमेकं स अजापालमजावृतम्

Transliteration

saṃprāptastāṃ purīṃ ramyāṃ tava rājakulaṃ gataḥ | dadarśāyāṃtamekaṃ sa ajāpālamajāvṛtam

Translation

ครั้นมาถึงนครอันรื่นรมย์นั้นแล้ว เขาเข้าไปยังเขตพระราชวัง และได้เห็นอชาปาละกำลังเสด็จมา—เพียงลำพัง รายล้อมด้วยฝูงแพะ

Word by Word

• संप्राप्तः: having arrived
• संप्राप्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• ताम्: that (city)
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• पुरीम्: city
• पुरीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• रम्याम्: beautiful, delightful
• रम्याम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular; agrees with पुरीम्)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• राजकुलम्: royal family/household
• राजकुलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः कुलम्)

• गतः: having gone
• गतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• ददर्श: he saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आयान्तम्: coming, approaching
• आयान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु) → आयान्त् (शतृ-प्रत्यय, वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular; object of ददर्श)

• एकम्: one, a certain
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular; agrees with अजापालम्)

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

• अजापालम्: goat-herd
• अजापालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजा (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अजानां पालः)

• अजावृतम्: surrounded by goats
• अजावृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजा (प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular; agrees with अजापालम्); तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/करणार्थ (अजाभिः आवृतम् = surrounded by goats)

Speaker

Narrator

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Dhūmrākṣa enters a beautiful city and the royal compound; Ajāpāla appears alone, encircled by goats—an unusual, memorable tableau blending royalty and pastoral life.

Characters & Entities

• Dhūmrākṣa
• Ajāpāla

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True strength in Purāṇic dharma can appear in humble forms, not merely in royal or martial display.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra remains the overarching sacred landscape of the chapter.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse describes the messenger’s arrival and sighting of Ajāpāla.