Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

तौ भक्तिभावोच्छ्वसितामलाशयावानंदबाष्पोक्षित सर्वगात्रौ । उत्थाप्य देवी कृपया परिप्लुता प्रेम्णा बभाषे मृदुवल्गुभाषिणी

Transliteration

tau bhaktibhāvocchvasitāmalāśayāvānaṃdabāṣpokṣita sarvagātrau | utthāpya devī kṛpayā pariplutā premṇā babhāṣe mṛduvalgubhāṣiṇī

Translation

Their hearts purified and uplifted by devotion, their whole bodies sprinkled with tears of joy—seeing them so, the Goddess, overflowing with compassion, raised them up and spoke lovingly in gentle, sweet words.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two (them)
• तौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया/प्रथमा (Accusative/Nominative), द्विवचनम्; अत्र कर्मरूपे (object)

• भक्तिभावोच्छ्वसितामलाशयौ: whose pure hearts were uplifted/expanded with devotional feeling
• भक्तिभावोच्छ्वसितामलाशयौ: Karma (Qualifier of तौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छ्वसित (कृदन्त; √श्वस्, उत्+क्त) + अमल (प्रातिपदिक) + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (ययोः आशयौ अमलौ, भक्तिभावेन उच्छ्वसितौ)

• आनन्दबाष्पोक्षितसर्वगात्रौ: whose whole bodies were sprinkled with tears of joy
• आनन्दबाष्पोक्षितसर्वगात्रौ: Karma (Qualifier of तौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + बाष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्षित (कृदन्त; √उक्ष्/√वक्ष्? ‘to sprinkle’, क्त) + सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (ययोः सर्वगात्रे आनन्दबाष्पेण उक्षिते)

• उत्थाप्य: having lifted up
• उत्थाप्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √स्था (धातु) + उत्- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (gerund): ‘having raised (them)’

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• कृपया: with compassion
• कृपया: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• परिप्लुता: overwhelmed, flooded
• परिप्लुता: Karta (Qualifier of देवी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि- (उपसर्ग) + प्लुत (कृदन्त; √प्लु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्तान्त-विशेषणम्

• प्रेम्णा: with love
• प्रेम्णा: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• बभाषे: spoke
• बभाषे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• मृदुवल्गुभाषिणी: she who speaks gently and sweetly
• मृदुवल्गुभाषिणी: Karta (Qualifier of देवी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक) + वल्गु (प्रातिपदिक) + भाषिणी (कृदन्त; √भाष्, णिनि-प्रत्यय/कर्तरि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (मृदु च वल्गु च या भाषा, तां भाषते)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice; leads into Devī’s speech)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The devotees lie prostrate, bodies trembling with joy and tears; the Goddess, moved with compassion, bends slightly, lifts them up with a gentle hand, and speaks with a tender smile.

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Muni (sage)
• Kanyā (maiden)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devī responds to sincere bhakti with tenderness—compassion that uplifts, consoles, and guides through loving speech.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific sacred site is mentioned; the verse glorifies the intimate grace (anugraha) of Devī toward devotees.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal ritual is prescribed; the verse describes devotional ecstasy (aśru/tears) and Devī’s compassionate response.