Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

शीघ्रत्वेन यथा विप्राश्चिरंतनजलेचरः

Transliteration

śīghratvena yathā viprāściraṃtanajalecaraḥ

Translation

Ô brāhmanes, d’une rapidité véritable—comme une créature très ancienne qui se meut dans les eaux.

Word by Word

• śīghratvena: with speed
• śīghratvena: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīghratva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; भाववाचक (by/with speed)

• yathā: as
• yathā: Upamāna (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक (as/like)

• viprāḥ: brāhmaṇas/learned men
• viprāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ciraṃtana-jalecaraḥ: an ancient water-dweller
• ciraṃtana-jalecaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ciraṃtana + jala + cara (प्रातिपदिकाः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (one who moves in water; qualified by 'ancient/long-standing')

Speaker

Sūta (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narratives are commonly Sūta addressing sages)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Brāhmaṇas (explicit)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A brief poetic zoom: the motion in water is compared to an ancient water-dweller—suggesting sleek, swift underwater travel and long familiarity with the depths.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It uses a vivid simile to intensify the narrative pace, preparing the listener for consequential dharmic events.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader section is Kedārakhaṇḍa (Kedāra/Kedārnāth sacred region), though this half-verse itself is not a direct tīrtha-glorification.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None is stated in this verse.