Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु देवेशो ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना । उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा नर्मदां सरितां वराम्

Transliteration

evamuktastu deveśo brahmaṇā parameṣṭhinā | uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā narmadāṃ saritāṃ varām

Translation

Ainsi interpellé par Brahmā, le Seigneur suprême, le Seigneur des dieux, adressa d’une voix douce ses paroles à Narmadā, la plus excellente des rivières.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of manner)

• उक्तः: having been addressed / spoken to
• उक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle, contrast/emphasis)

• देवेशः: Lord of the gods
• देवेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् ईशः)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karta (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देश (instrumental/agentive)

• परमेष्ठिना: by the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin, i.e., Brahmā)
• परमेष्ठिना: Karta (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + स्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक: परमेष्ठिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/विशेषणरूप प्रातिपदिक (one who is in the highest place)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• श्लक्ष्णया: with gentle
• श्लक्ष्णया: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (instrumental of manner)

• वाचा: speech/words
• वाचा: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• नर्मदाम्: Narmadā
• नर्मदाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

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

• वराम्: the best/excellent
• वराम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying नर्मदाम्)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice) introducing Śiva’s reply

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā)

Type: river

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā addresses the Lord of gods; Rudra/Īśvara turns and speaks gently to the personified river-goddess Narmadā, who stands as a luminous woman with river-emblems, lotuses, and flowing water motifs.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Deveśa)
• Brahmā (Parameṣṭhin)
• Narmadā (Revā)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred rivers are honored as foremost tīrthas, and divine discourse frames their role in cosmic order and dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Narmadā/Revā herself is glorified as the best among rivers, implying the entire Narmadā tīrtha-tradition.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is stated; the verse sets the scene for instruction.