Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

नीलोत्पलदलश्यामं पीतवाससमव्ययम् । किरीटेनार्कवर्णेन विद्युद्विद्योतकारिणा

Transliteration

nīlotpaladalaśyāmaṃ pītavāsasamavyayam | kirīṭenārkavarṇena vidyudvidyotakāriṇā

Translation

Sombre comme le pétale du lotus bleu, revêtu d’un vêtement jaune impérissable, et couronné d’un diadème couleur de soleil, étincelant comme l’éclair—

Word by Word

• नीलोत्पलदलश्यामम्: dark like a blue-lotus petal
• नीलोत्पलदलश्यामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + उत्पल + दल + श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: तत्पुरुष (nīlotpala-dalasya śyāmaḥ = dark like the petal of a blue lotus)

• पीतवाससम्: wearing yellow garments
• पीतवाससम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक); पीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: कर्मधारय (पीतं वासः यस्य/पीतवासाः)

• अमव्ययम्: imperishable
• अमव्ययम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + म + व्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (amavyaya = undecaying/imperishable)

• किरीटेन: with a crown
• किरीटेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• अर्कवर्णेन: of sun-like color
• अर्कवर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्क + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: तत्पुरुष (arkasya varṇaḥ = sun-colored)

• विद्युद्विद्योतकारिणा: causing a lightning-like radiance
• विद्युद्विद्योतकारिणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत् + विद्योत + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक); कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: तत्पुरुष (vidyut-vidyotaṃ karoti = causing lightning-like brilliance)

Speaker

Unspecified (deduced: narrator describing the deity’s form, likely Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa by iconography)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā) — contextual frame for theophany

Type: river

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A divine figure emerges: skin dark as blue-lotus petals, wearing bright yellow imperishable cloth, crowned with a sun-colored diadem flashing like lightning.

Characters & Entities

• Implied: Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa (blue-hued, yellow garments, crown)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Darśana of the divine form dispels fear and confirms that sacred waters and dharma are guarded by higher powers.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Revā/Narmadā sphere of Revā-khaṇḍa is the backdrop for this darśana, reinforcing the sanctity of the river-region.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse focuses on iconographic description as part of a revelation narrative.