Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

ततः पर्याययोगेन नर्मदातटमाश्रितः । नर्मदादक्षिणे कूले चचार विपुलं तपः

Transliteration

tataḥ paryāyayogena narmadātaṭamāśritaḥ | narmadādakṣiṇe kūle cacāra vipulaṃ tapaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, in the proper course of time, he took refuge upon the banks of the Narmadā, and on her southern shore he performed vast austerities.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘ततः’ = ‘thereafter/from there’

• पर्याययोगेन: by the practice of alternation/sequence
• पर्याययोगेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paryāya (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पर्यायस्य योगः) — ‘by/through the method of alternation/sequence’

• नर्मदा-तटम्: the bank of the Narmadā
• नर्मदा-तटम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narmadā (प्रातिपदिक) + taṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नर्मदायाः तटम्)

• आश्रितः: having taken refuge/settled
• आश्रितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘आश्रित’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् — ‘having resorted to/settled on’

• नर्मदात्: from the Narmadā
• नर्मदात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narmadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन — ‘from the Narmadā’

• दक्षिणे: on the southern
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कूले) — ‘on the southern’

• कूले: on the bank
• कूले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — ‘on the bank’

• चचार: performed/practiced
• चचार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — ‘he practiced/performed’

• विपुलम्: great
• विपुलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तपः) — ‘abundant/great’

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — ‘austerity’

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced: Āvantya Khaṇḍa narrative style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā/Narmadā-taṭa

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A lone ascetic figure takes residence on the southern bank of the Narmadā; broad river flowing, rocky/forested bank, simple kuśa seat, minimal possessions; atmosphere of quiet endurance.

Characters & Entities

• Narmadā (Reva)
• Southern bank of Narmadā
• Kumāra (Skanda)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred rivers are seats of tapas; approaching the Narmadā with discipline and devotion supports spiritual power and protection of dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Narmadā (Revā) riverbank—especially her southern shore—is highlighted as a potent setting for austerity and sanctity.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tapas on the Narmadā’s bank is the implied observance; the verse presents riverbank austerity as a dharmic practice.