Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

आराधयन्ती सततं महिषासुरनाशिनीं । देवीं भगवतीं तात सर्वार्तिविनिवारणीम्

Transliteration

ārādhayantī satataṃ mahiṣāsuranāśinīṃ | devīṃ bhagavatīṃ tāta sarvārtivinivāraṇīm

Translation

Sans cesse elle rendait un culte à la Déesse Bienheureuse, la meurtrière de Mahiṣāsura, ô cher, celle qui écarte toute détresse et toute affliction.

Word by Word

• आराधयन्ती: worshipping
• आराधयन्ती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + rādh (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि (she, worshipping)

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Adhikarana (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः (adverbial use)

• महिषासुरनाशिनीम्: the slayer of Mahiṣāsura
• महिषासुरनाशिनीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣa + asura + nāśinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महिषासुरस्य नाशिनी)

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भगवतीम्: the blessed/divine
• भगवतीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying devīm)

• तात: O dear (one)/O father
• तात: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन-शब्दः (address)

• सर्वार्तिविनिवारणीम्: remover of all afflictions
• सर्वार्तिविनिवारणीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + ārti + vinivāraṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वासाम् आर्तीनां विनिवारणी) विशेषणम् (of devīm)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narration within Revā Khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Narmadā (Revā)

Type: river

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: tāta / nṛpa (king addressed affectionately)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The devotee offers flowers and lamp to a radiant Mahīṣāsuramardinī image—lion mount, trident, and the subdued buffalo-demon—while the Narmadā glimmers nearby; the atmosphere is protective and compassionate.

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Mahiṣāsura

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Steady, continuous devotion to the Goddess is praised as a direct means to remove suffering and obstacles.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Revā (Narmadā) sacred region is the setting; the verse supports the Māhātmya context that culminates in the tīrtha’s fame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Regular worship/propitiation (ārādhana) of the Goddess, presented as ongoing devotional discipline.