Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

प्रणवादिमहाबीजं नारदादींश्च वैष्णवान् । शिवभक्तांश्च बाणादीन्प्रह्लादादीन्दृढव्रतान्

Transliteration

praṇavādimahābījaṃ nāradādīṃśca vaiṣṇavān | śivabhaktāṃśca bāṇādīnprahlādādīndṛḍhavratān

Translation

Qu’on se souvienne de la grande syllabe-semence qui commence par le Praṇava (Oṃ), des Vaiṣṇava conduits par Nārada, des dévots de Śiva conduits par Bāṇa, et des observants aux vœux inébranlables conduits par Prahlāda.

Word by Word

• प्रणवादिमहाबीजम्: the great seed (mantra) beginning with Praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवादिमहाबीजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव + आदि + महा + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नारदादीन्: Nārada and others
• नारदादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• वैष्णवान्: Vaiṣṇavas (devotees of Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शिवभक्तान्: devotees of Śiva
• शिवभक्तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• बाणादीन्: Bāṇa and others
• बाणादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रह्लादादीन्: Prahlāda and others
• प्रह्लादादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दृढव्रतान्: firm in vows
• दृढव्रतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः ("प्रह्लादादीन्" इति विशेष्यस्य)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sages in the frame narrative

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A luminous Oṃ hovers as a cosmic seed; Nārada with vīṇā sings, Bāṇa stands as a devoted king-warrior, and child Prahlāda prays unwaveringly—set against Kāśī’s ghāṭas and a distant Viśveśvara spire.

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṃ)
• Nārada
• Vaiṣṇavas
• Bāṇa
• Śiva-bhaktas
• Prahlāda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual life is supported by mantra (Oṃ), devotion (Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva bhakti), and unwavering commitment to vows (dṛḍha-vrata).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it complements the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kāśī-centered dharma by honoring exemplary devotees.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Smaraṇa of Oṃ and remembrance of paradigmatic devotees (Nārada, Bāṇa, Prahlāda) as part of disciplined daily practice.