Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

अपूर्णनियमस्याऽथ क्लेशितत्य च दानवैः । ब्रह्मण्यदेव विप्रस्य शरणं भव केशव

Transliteration

apūrṇaniyamasyā'tha kleśitatya ca dānavaiḥ | brahmaṇyadeva viprasya śaraṇaṃ bhava keśava

Translation

而我——戒行未竟，又为达那瓦（Dānava）所苦——噢，护持婆罗门之神（Brahmaṇyadeva），求你作此婆罗门的归依，噢，凯沙瓦（Keśava）。

Word by Word

• अपूर्णनियमस्य: of (me) whose observances are incomplete
• अपूर्णनियमस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपूर्ण-नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘अपूर्णः नियमः’

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/प्रसङ्गार्थक (then/now)

• क्लेशितस्य: of (me) distressed
• क्लेशितस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √क्लिश् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण—‘क्लेशितः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• दानवैः: by demons (Dānavas)
• दानवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मण्यदेव: O Brahmaṇya-deva
• ब्रह्मण्यदेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मण्य-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘ब्रह्मण्यः देवः’ (protector of Brahmins/Veda)

• विप्रस्य: of the Brahmin (sage)
• विप्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भव: be
• भव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/imperative), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• केशव: O Keśava
• केशव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

Speaker

Durvāsā (addressing Viṣṇu as Brahmaṇyadeva)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The brāhmaṇa points to signs of assault and speaks of broken observances; Keśava is addressed as Brahmaṇyadeva, radiating protective authority; shadowy dānava/daitya figures implied at the margins.

Characters & Entities

• Keśava
• Brahmaṇyadeva
• Dānavas
• Vipra (Brahmin)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When dharmic observances are obstructed by oppression, one should seek the Lord who safeguards Brahmins and righteousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of Dvārakā Māhātmya, but it does not name a particular tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Niyama (religious discipline) is referenced, but no specific vow is detailed in this verse.