Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा वसिष्ठमनुगामायान्तीं सुरपावनीम् । अवाकिरन्महाभागां सुमनोभिश्च सर्वशः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā vasiṣṭhamanugāmāyāntīṃ surapāvanīm | avākiranmahābhāgāṃ sumanobhiśca sarvaśaḥ

Translation

Seeing that supremely auspicious purifier of the gods approaching in the wake of Vasiṣṭha, they showered her from all sides with flowers.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (पूर्वकाल)

• वसिष्ठम्: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अनुगाम्: following (him)
• अनुगाम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + गाम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘अनुगाम्’ = following (her)

• आयान्तीम्: coming; approaching
• आयान्तीम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-या (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सुरपावनीम्)

• सुरपावनीम्: the purifier of the gods (Gaṅgā)
• सुरपावनीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + पावनी (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुराणां पावनी)

• अवाकिरन्: they showered; they scattered
• अवाकिरन्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-किॄ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• महाभागाम्: illustrious
• महाभागाम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + भाग (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सुरपावनीम्)

• सुमनोभिः: with flowers
• सुमनोभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः)

• सर्वशः: on all sides; in every way
• सर्वशः: Adhikarana (Adverbial manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रकारवाचक), ‘सर्वतः/सर्वप्रकारेण’ इत्यर्थे

Speaker

Narrator within the Dvārakā Māhātmya (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant, auspicious purifier approaches behind/with Vasiṣṭha; sages and brāhmaṇas shower her with blossoms from every side, creating a canopy of flowers over the procession.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Sura-pāvanī (epithet of the river goddess)
• Sages (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Honoring purifying sacred waters is itself a dharmic act, expressing gratitude for their power to cleanse and uplift.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Gomatī-associated tīrtha tradition in the Dvārakā region, where the river is welcomed and worshiped.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offering flowers (puṣpavṛṣṭi/puṣpārcana) as a gesture of pūjā and welcome.