Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

कावेर्या नर्मदायास्तु सङ्गमे लोकविश्रुते । तत्र स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा कुबेरः सत्यविक्रमः

Transliteration

kāveryā narmadāyāstu saṅgame lokaviśrute | tatra snātvā śucirbhūtvā kuberaḥ satyavikramaḥ

Translation

Au confluent, célèbre dans le monde, de la Kāverī et de la Narmadā, Kubera, dont la vaillance était vraie, s’y baigna; puis, purifié, se prépara à l’observance sacrée.

Word by Word

• कावेर्याः: of the Kāverī (river)
• कावेर्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कावेरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचनम्

• नर्मदायाः: of the Narmadā (river)
• नर्मदायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचनम्

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (emphasis)

• सङ्गमे: at the confluence
• सङ्गमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचनम्

• लोकविश्रुते: world-renowned
• लोकविश्रुते: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + विश्रुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचनम्; ‘सङ्गमे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः—लोके विश्रुतः (well-known in the world)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (absolutive/gerund); धातुः—स्ना (स्नाने)

• शुचिः: pure, clean
• शुचिः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम्; ‘कुबेरः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः; धातुः—भू (सत्तायाम्)

• कुबेरः: Kubera
• कुबेरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुबेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम्

• सत्यविक्रमः: of true valor
• सत्यविक्रमः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—सत्यः विक्रमः यस्य/सत्यविक्रमः

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narration; likely Sūta to sages within Āvantya Khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāverī–Narmadā-saṅgama

Type: sangam

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nṛpa/Rājan

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two rivers of distinct hues meet; Kubera steps into the waters with folded hands, attendants holding garments; the moment emphasizes purity and resolve rather than opulence.

Characters & Entities

• Kubera
• Kāverī
• Narmadā
• Saṅgama (confluence)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purification begins with tīrtha-snānā—approaching a sacred place with bodily and mental cleanliness as a foundation for dharma and devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The renowned Kāverī–Narmadā confluence (saṅgama), praised as a world-famous tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Snāna (holy bathing) at the saṅgama, followed by becoming śuci (ritually pure).