Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

सुरैः प्रवालकमयैर्लाङ्गुलध्वजशोभिताम् । प्रलम्बघोणां नर्दन्तीं खुरैरर्णवगाहिनीम्

Transliteration

suraiḥ pravālakamayairlāṅguladhvajaśobhitām | pralambaghoṇāṃ nardantīṃ khurairarṇavagāhinīm

Translation

Sie war geschmückt mit korallenartigen Zierden, der Götter würdig, und mit Schweif und Banner geziert. Mit langem Maul und dröhnendem Brüllen durchmaß sie den Ozean und watete ihn mit ihren Hufen.

Word by Word

• सुरैः: by/with the gods
• सुरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• प्रवालक-मयैः: made of coral
• प्रवालक-मयैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवालक (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘प्रवालकस्य मयः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• लाङ्गुल-ध्वज-शोभिताम्: adorned with tail-flags
• लाङ्गुल-ध्वज-शोभिताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लाङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभित (कृदन्त; √शुभ्/शोभ्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘लाङ्गुलध्वजैः शोभिता’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष; Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• प्रलम्ब-घोणाम्: having a long/protruding snout
• प्रलम्ब-घोणाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + घोणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘प्रलम्बा घोणा यस्याः सा’; Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• नर्दन्तीम्: roaring
• नर्दन्तीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर्दत् (कृदन्त; √नर्द्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ); Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• खुरैः: with hooves
• खुरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• अर्णव-गाहिनीम्: plunging into the ocean
• अर्णव-गाहिनीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक) + गाहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अर्णवं गाहते’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष; Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Implied audience within Purāṇic frame (typically a sage/kingly inquirer)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A divine, coral-adorned cow-like being with a bannered tail strides through a vast ocean, hooves parting the waters; the horizon is filled with spray and sacred radiance.

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Divine Cow (mystic apparition)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The narrative suggests that divine agency can traverse what seems impassable, guiding the devotee toward safety and meaning.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named in this descriptive verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None—this is narrative description of a visionary figure.