Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

दूरादेष पुरोभागे ज्वालामालासमाकुलः । शिखाभिर्लेलिहानोभ्रं दृश्यते पश्य पावकः

Transliteration

dūrādeṣa purobhāge jvālāmālāsamākulaḥ | śikhābhirlelihānobhraṃ dṛśyate paśya pāvakaḥ

Translation

Sieh—dort vorn, aus der Ferne, erscheint ein Feuer, dicht umkränzt von Flammengirlanden; seine Zungen des Brandes lecken den Himmel.

Word by Word

• दूरात्: from afar
• दूरात्: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ("from afar")

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुरोभागे: in the front part / ahead
• पुरोभागे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—पुरः + भाग (षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• ज्वालामालासमाकुलः: filled with a chain/garland of flames
• ज्वालामालासमाकुलः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक) + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—ज्वालामाला + समाकुल (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: "jumbled/filled with a garland of flames")

• शिखाभिः: with flames/tongues (of fire)
• शिखाभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• लेलिहानः: licking
• लेलिहानः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिह् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; "licking"

• अभ्रम्: the sky/clouds
• अभ्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दृश्यते: is seen / appears
• दृश्यते: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• पश्य: see! / look!
• पश्य: आज्ञा/प्रेरणा (Directive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पावकः: fire
• पावकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Vijayadatta (pointing out the fire)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setu-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim pair (father and son) on a coastal/forest edge sees, from afar, a towering fire crowned with garlands of flame; tongues of fire lick a darkening sky, creating a deceptive beacon-like spectacle.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Perception can be deceptive in crisis; one must discern rightly before acting.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the verse functions as narrative imagery within Setukhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.