Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

संसेव्य सर्वतीर्थानि नदीः सर्वाश्च वै पुरा । बहुकल्पस्मरां रेवामालक्ष्य शिवदेहजाम्

Transliteration

saṃsevya sarvatīrthāni nadīḥ sarvāśca vai purā | bahukalpasmarāṃ revāmālakṣya śivadehajām

Translation

Having once frequented all tīrthas and all rivers, and recognizing Revā—remembered through many kalpas—as born from Śiva’s own body, he turned his mind toward her.

Word by Word

• संसेव्य: having resorted to/served
• संसेव्य: Kriya (पूर्वकर्म/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + सेव् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having done)

• सर्वतीर्थानि: all sacred fords/pilgrimage places
• सर्वतीर्थानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Accusative plural)

• नदीः: rivers
• नदीः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Accusative plural)

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Accusative plural); विशेषणम् (qualifier of नदीः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• पुरा: formerly, in olden times
• पुरा: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• बहुकल्पस्मराम्: remembering many aeons
• बहुकल्पस्मराम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier of रेवाम्); बहून् कल्पान् स्मरति इति (remembering many aeons)

• रेवाम्: Revā (Narmadā)
• रेवाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• आलक्ष्य: having perceived
• आलक्ष्य: Kriya (पूर्वकर्म/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having perceived/seen)

• शिवदेहजाम्: born from Śiva’s body
• शिवदेहजाम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier of रेवाम्); शिवस्य देहात् जाता (born from Śiva's body)

Speaker

Vāyu (continuing the account of Mārkaṇḍeya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: null

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A seasoned pilgrim who has visited countless tīrthas stands on the bank of Revā, perceiving her as a luminous goddess arising from Śiva’s own body; the river glows with kalpa-spanning memory, with distant tīrtha-icons faintly reflected in her waters.

Characters & Entities

• Revā (Narmadā)
• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Among many sacred places, Revā is singled out by her divine origin and timeless remembrance, making her devotionally unique.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Revā/Narmadā herself, presented as a supremely sacred river with Śaiva origin.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The verse implies tīrtha-sevā and yātrā (pilgrimage/attendance) but does not specify a particular bath, gift, or mantra.