Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

समाप्ते च क्रतौ भूयो गंतारः स्वं निकेतनम् । युष्माभिर्भेदितं यस्मादेतत्पर्वतकन्दरम्

Transliteration

samāpte ca kratau bhūyo gaṃtāraḥ svaṃ niketanam | yuṣmābhirbheditaṃ yasmādetatparvatakandaram

Translation

“Và khi nghi lễ ấy viên mãn, các con sẽ lại trở về nơi cư trú của mình—bởi hang động núi này đã được chính các con khai mở, khiến đường đi thông suốt.”

Word by Word

• samāpte: when (it is) completed
• samāpte: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-āp (सम्+आप् धातु) → samāpta (कृदन्त/कृत)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (contextual; with kratau: पुंलिङ्गे), क्त (past passive participle) used as locative absolute with kratau

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• kratau: in the sacrifice
• kratau: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhūyaḥ: again, thereafter
• bhūyaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय/तुलनाबोधक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• gaṃtāraḥ: goers, those who will go
• gaṃtāraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gam (गम् धातु) → gantṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun)

• svam: one’s own
• svam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); स्वकीय-विशेषण

• niketanam: abode, dwelling
• niketanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niketana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• yuṣmābhiḥ: by you (all)
• yuṣmābhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन (Plural), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• bheditam: split, broken open
• bheditam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhid (भिद् धातु) → bhedita (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); क्त (past passive participle)

• yasmāt: since, because
• yasmāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: हेतौ अव्ययीभावार्थे (causal sense ‘because/since’); मूलतः पञ्चमी-एकवचन रूपं, अव्ययवत् प्रयुक्तम्

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• parvata-kandaram: the mountain-cave
• parvata-kandaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक) + kandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (parvatasya kandaram)

Speaker

Devī

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: cave

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/assembly (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The cavern appears widened and luminous, as if newly opened; Devī indicates the path outward; Nāgas prepare to depart after the rite’s completion.

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Nāga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine protection is not only spiritual; it also orders safe passage and rightful return after danger has passed.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Arbuda mountain landscape—specifically a parvata-kandara (mountain cavern) tied to the Nāgas’ presence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No new ritual; it sets the sequence: remain protected until the kratu ends, then return.