Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

राज्यदां वा महाभाग पुत्रदां भाग्यदामथ । सुकलत्रप्रदां वापि विष्णोर्भक्तिप्रदामिति

Transliteration

rājyadāṃ vā mahābhāga putradāṃ bhāgyadāmatha | sukalatrapradāṃ vāpi viṣṇorbhaktipradāmiti

Translation

Elle peut accorder la souveraineté, ô bienheureux ; elle peut donner des fils et la bonne fortune ; elle peut aussi donner une épouse excellente — et elle donne la dévotion à Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• राज्यदाम्: granting kingdom
• राज्यदाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज्यदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (राज्यं ददाति)

• वा: or
• वा: Discourse particle (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् भागः यस्य)

• पुत्रदाम्: granting a son
• पुत्रदाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्रदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (पुत्रं ददाति)

• भाग्यदाम्: granting good fortune
• भाग्यदाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाग्यदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (भाग्यं ददाति)

• अथ: and/then
• अथ: Discourse particle (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय

• सुकलत्रप्रदाम्: granting a good spouse
• सुकलत्रप्रदाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + कलत्र + प्रदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (सु-कलत्रं प्रददाति)

• वा: or
• वा: Discourse particle (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Discourse particle (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• भक्तिप्रदाम्: granting devotion
• भक्तिप्रदाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति + प्रदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (भक्तिं ददाति)

• इति: thus
• इति: Quotation marker (इत्यर्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative/end marker)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A symbolic tableau: a devotee receives blessings—crown (sovereignty), child (progeny), auspicious couple (good spouse)—all culminating in a radiant Viṣṇu-emblem at the heart signifying bhakti.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Bhakti

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even when worldly boons arise, the text elevates Viṣṇu-bhakti as the crowning and most meaningful attainment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The promise is embedded in the Revā Khaṇḍa’s Narmadā-centered sacred narrative, connected to Devatīrtha worship in this adhyāya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicit continuation of the Vaiṣṇava discipline (dīkṣā/vrata/pūjā) whose fruits are being enumerated.