Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । जगद्धिताय जनिता मया त्वं परमेश्वरि । स्वर्गान्मर्त्यं ततो याहि लोकानां हितकाम्यया

Transliteration

brahmovāca | jagaddhitāya janitā mayā tvaṃ parameśvari | svargānmartyaṃ tato yāhi lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā

Translation

Brahmā said: For the welfare of the world you were brought forth by me, O Supreme Lady. Therefore go from heaven to the mortal realm, desiring the good of all beings.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म: Brahmā
• ब्रह्म: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; वक्तृ-निर्देश

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• जगद्धिताय: for the welfare of the world
• जगद्धिताय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः हितम्)

• जनिता: progenitor/creator
• जनिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन् (धातु) + तृच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karman (Object of 'janitā'/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• परमेश्वरि: O supreme goddess
• परमेश्वरि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परमा ईश्वरी)

• स्वर्गात्: from heaven
• स्वर्गात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• मर्त्यम्: to the mortal world
• मर्त्यम्: Karman (Goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; गन्तव्य-देशः

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, ततः=तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम् (ablatival/temporal adverb)

• याहि: go
• याहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (Beneficiary genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• हितकाम्यया: with the desire for (their) welfare
• हितकाम्यया: Karana (Motive/Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हितस्य काम्या)

Speaker

Brahmā

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā/Kapilā

Type: tirtha

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā speaks authoritatively, commissioning Kapilā/Revā to leave heaven and go to the mortal realm for the welfare of worlds; a visual of descent from celestial clouds to an earthly river valley.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Parameśvarī (Devī)
• Svarga
• Martya-loka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine power is directed toward lokahita—active compassion and protection within the mortal world.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Revā (Narmadā) region forms the broader sacred-geography context, though the verse itself describes the Devī’s descent rather than a named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed; it is an instruction establishing the Devī’s mission.