Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

पुरूरवा आर्द्रवश्च पार्वणे समुदाहृतौ । पुष्टिं प्रजां च न्यग्रोधे बुद्धिं प्रज्ञां धृतिं स्मृतिम्

Transliteration

purūravā ārdravaśca pārvaṇe samudāhṛtau | puṣṭiṃ prajāṃ ca nyagrodhe buddhiṃ prajñāṃ dhṛtiṃ smṛtim

Translation

于朔望祭祖（pārvaṇa-śrāddha），宣说当启请普鲁罗婆斯（Purūravas）与阿尔德拉瓦（Ārdrava）。若以尼耶伽罗陀（nyagrodha，榕树）为所依之器而行此仪，则得滋养与子嗣，并赐聪慧、明辨、坚忍与记忆。

Word by Word

• पुरूरवाः: Purūravas
• पुरूरवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरूरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• आर्द्रवः: Ārdrava
• आर्द्रवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्द्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

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

• पार्वणे: in/at the Pārvaṇa (vessel/occasion named Pārvaṇa)
• पार्वणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• समुदाहृतौ: are declared/mentioned
• समुदाहृतौ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उद्+आहृ (धातु) → समुदाहृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘समुदाहृतौ’ = ‘are declared/mentioned’

• पुष्टिम्: nourishment, prosperity
• पुष्टिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रजाम्: offspring, people
• प्रजाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• न्यग्रोधे: in/at the banyan (nyagrodha)
• न्यग्रोधे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यग्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• बुद्धिम्: intellect
• बुद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रज्ञाम्: wisdom
• प्रज्ञाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• धृतिम्: steadfastness
• धृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• स्मृतिम्: memory
• स्मृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya narrative style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Under a vast banyan (nyagrodha) near Prabhāsa, a śrāddha is performed: piṇḍas and water offerings placed on a wooden/leaf vessel; the banyan’s aerial roots frame the scene. Subtle iconographic hints of Purūravas and Ārdrava appear as invoked presences. The atmosphere suggests blessings of children and clarity of mind.

Characters & Entities

• Purūravas
• Ārdrava
• Nyagrodha (banyan)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śrāddha performed with correct traditional associations is said to refine both worldly welfare (progeny, nourishment) and inner faculties (wisdom, memory).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, presented as a place where śrāddha yields heightened and specific results.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

For pārvaṇa-śrāddha, invoke Purūravas and Ārdrava; using the nyagrodha association is praised for bestowing particular fruits.