Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

प्रणवादिमहाबीजं नारदादींश्च वैष्णवान् । शिवभक्तांश्च बाणादीन्प्रह्लादादीन्दृढव्रतान्

Transliteration

praṇavādimahābījaṃ nāradādīṃśca vaiṣṇavān | śivabhaktāṃśca bāṇādīnprahlādādīndṛḍhavratān

Translation

Man soll die große Samen-Silbe, beginnend mit dem Praṇava (Oṃ), die Vaiṣṇavas, beginnend mit Nārada, die Śiva-Bhaktas, beginnend mit Bāṇa, und die standhaften Gelübdehalter, beginnend mit Prahlāda, in Erinnerung rufen.

Word by Word

• प्रणवादिमहाबीजम्: the great seed (mantra) beginning with Praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवादिमहाबीजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव + आदि + महा + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नारदादीन्: Nārada and others
• नारदादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• वैष्णवान्: Vaiṣṇavas (devotees of Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शिवभक्तान्: devotees of Śiva
• शिवभक्तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• बाणादीन्: Bāṇa and others
• बाणादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रह्लादादीन्: Prahlāda and others
• प्रह्लादादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दृढव्रतान्: firm in vows
• दृढव्रतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः ("प्रह्लादादीन्" इति विशेष्यस्य)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sages in the frame narrative

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A luminous Oṃ hovers as a cosmic seed; Nārada with vīṇā sings, Bāṇa stands as a devoted king-warrior, and child Prahlāda prays unwaveringly—set against Kāśī’s ghāṭas and a distant Viśveśvara spire.

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṃ)
• Nārada
• Vaiṣṇavas
• Bāṇa
• Śiva-bhaktas
• Prahlāda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual life is supported by mantra (Oṃ), devotion (Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva bhakti), and unwavering commitment to vows (dṛḍha-vrata).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it complements the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kāśī-centered dharma by honoring exemplary devotees.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Smaraṇa of Oṃ and remembrance of paradigmatic devotees (Nārada, Bāṇa, Prahlāda) as part of disciplined daily practice.