Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

ननर्त नर्मदातीरे दक्षिणे पाण्डुनन्दन । तुष्टैर्मरुद्गणैः सर्वैः स्थापितः कमलासनः

Transliteration

nanarta narmadātīre dakṣiṇe pāṇḍunandana | tuṣṭairmarudgaṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ sthāpitaḥ kamalāsanaḥ

Translation

He danced on the southern bank of the Narmadā, O son of Pāṇḍu. And, with all the Marut hosts delighted, the Lotus-seated Brahmā was established there.

Word by Word

• ननर्त: danced
• ननर्त: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nṛt (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• नर्मदातीरे: on the bank of the Narmadā
• नर्मदातीरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narmadā-tīra (प्रातिपदिक; नर्मदा + तीर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘नर्मदायाः तीरम्’

• दक्षिणे: on the southern (side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तीरे इति)

• पाण्डुनन्दन: O son of Pāṇḍu
• पाण्डुनन्दन: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇḍu-nandana (प्रातिपदिक; पाण्डु + नन्दन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘पाण्डोः नन्दनः’

• तुष्टैः: by/with pleased
• तुष्टैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tuṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; √tuṣ क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मरुद्गणैः इति)

• मरुद्गणैः: by the groups of Maruts
• मरुद्गणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marut-gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; मरुत् + गण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘मरुतां गणाः’

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मरुद्गणैः इति)

• स्थापितः: installed
• स्थापितः: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मणि—‘was installed/placed’

• कमलासनः: the lotus-seated one (Brahmā)
• कमलासनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala-āsana (प्रातिपदिक; कमल + आसन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘कमलस्य आसनम् यस्य’ (रूढ्या ब्रह्मा)

Speaker

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya (continuing narration, addressing Yudhiṣṭhira)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira

Visual Art Cues

Scene: On the Narmadā’s southern bank, Śiva in Bhairava mood dances; Maruts rejoice around; Brahmā (lotus-seated) is ceremonially established, suggesting a shrine/seat consecration.

Characters & Entities

• Narmadā (Revā)
• Pāṇḍunandana (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Maruts
• Brahmā (Kamalāsana)
• Śiva (implied dancer)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A tīrtha becomes supremely holy when the divine presence is revealed there and the cosmic powers themselves bear witness to its sanctification.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ānandeśvara associated with the southern bank of the Narmadā (Revā).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; the verse locates the sanctifying event geographically (Narmadā’s southern bank), guiding pilgrimage orientation.