Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

प्रणम्याहं ततो देवौ भक्तियुक्तो वचोऽब्रुवम् । भवन्तौ प्रार्थयामि स्म वरार्हौ वरदौ शिवौ

Transliteration

praṇamyāhaṃ tato devau bhaktiyukto vaco'bruvam | bhavantau prārthayāmi sma varārhau varadau śivau

Translation

Puis, m’étant prosterné devant les deux divinités, je parlai avec dévotion : «Je vous implore tous deux, dignes d’accorder des grâces, dispensateurs de grâces, Śiva de bon augure».

Word by Word

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययभावे कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive, ल्यप्); अर्थ: ‘प्रणमित्वा’ (having bowed)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; लिङ्गानपेक्ष

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = thereafter

• देवौ: the two gods
• देवौ: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; कर्म (object)

• भक्ति-युक्तः: endowed with devotion
• भक्ति-युक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘भक्त्या युक्तः’ (endowed with devotion)

• वचः: words, speech
• वचः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• अब्रुवम्: I said
• अब्रुवम्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भवन्तौ: you two (honorific)
• भवन्तौ: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; आदरार्थक-सर्वनाम

• प्रार्थयामि: I request
• प्रार्थयामि: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्म: indeed / (past marker)
• स्म: Kriya (Aux/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात); भूतार्थ/अनुस्मरण-प्रयोगे, क्रियायाः बलवर्धक (particle indicating past/continuity)

• वर-अर्हौ: worthy of granting boons
• वर-अर्हौ: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; विशेषण; ‘वरस्य अर्हौ’ (worthy of a boon)

• वरदौ: boon-giving
• वरदौ: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; विशेषण

• शिवौ: the two auspicious ones (Śiva forms)
• शिवौ: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; कर्म

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya (narrating to Yudhiṣṭhira, inferred)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-tīrtha (contextual)

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee stands at the riverbank with folded hands, bowing low before the twin deities; the atmosphere is reverent and still, with the deities’ radiance dominating the scene.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Śaṅkara

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion expresses itself through humility (praṇāma) and heartfelt prayer (prārthanā).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Implicitly the Narmadā-side sacred spot where the divine pair is worshipped and approached for grace.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Praṇāma (prostration/bowing) and devotional supplication are indicated as proper responses to divine presence.