Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

एषा पवित्रा विमला नदी त्रैलोक्यविश्रुता । नर्मदा सरितां श्रेष्ठा महादेवस्य वल्लभा

Transliteration

eṣā pavitrā vimalā nadī trailokyaviśrutā | narmadā saritāṃ śreṣṭhā mahādevasya vallabhā

Translation

Cette rivière est sainte et sans tache, renommée dans les trois mondes : Narmadā, la plus excellente des rivières, bien-aimée de Mahādeva.

Word by Word

• एषा: this (she)
• एषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पवित्रा: pure/holy
• पवित्रा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to नदी/नर्मदा)

• विमला: spotless/clean
• विमला: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नदी: river
• नदी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रैलोक्यविश्रुता: renowned in the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यविश्रुता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैलोक्य + विश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (त्रैलोक्ये विश्रुता = renowned in the three worlds)

• नर्मदा: Narmada
• नर्मदा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नदी-नाम

• सरिताम्: of rivers
• सरिताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• श्रेष्ठा: best/excellent
• श्रेष्ठा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to नर्मदा)

• महादेवस्य: of Mahadeva (Shiva)
• महादेवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् देवः)

• वल्लभा: beloved (consort/dear)
• वल्लभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वल्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण/उपपद-भाव (प्रियाः)

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Narmadā (Revā)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pāṇḍava (nṛpa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The Narmadā personified as a radiant river-goddess, flowing through rocky ghāṭs and forested banks; Śiva’s presence suggested—either as a liṅga on the bank or as Mahādeva gazing affectionately upon the river.

Characters & Entities

• Narmadā (Revā)
• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Narmadā is celebrated as inherently purifying and universally renowned, embodying Śiva’s special favor in sacred geography.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The river Narmadā (Revā) herself as a living tīrtha, central to Revā Khaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit prescription in this verse; it functions as a eulogy establishing Narmadā’s sanctity and Śaiva connection.