Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

वाचस्पतिरुवाचेदं प्राञ्जलिर्जलजासनम् । युष्मद्वंशोद्भवस्तात तालमेघो महाबलः

Transliteration

vācaspatiruvācedaṃ prāñjalirjalajāsanam | yuṣmadvaṃśodbhavastāta tālamegho mahābalaḥ

Translation

વાચસ્પતિએ અંજલિ બાંધી કમલાસન બ્રહ્માને કહ્યું— “તાત, તમારા જ વંશમાંથી ‘તાલમેઘ’ નામનો મહાબલી ઉત્પન્ન થયો છે.”

Word by Word

• वाचस्पतिः: Vācaspati (Bṛhaspati)
• वाचस्पतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाचस्-पति (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा); विग्रहः: वाचसां पतिः (lord of speech; Bṛhaspati)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया)

• प्राञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• प्राञ्जलिः: Karta (Subject attribute/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा); ‘वाचस्पतिः’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्; अर्थः: अञ्जलिं कृत्वा (with folded hands)

• जलजासनम्: the lotus-seated one (Brahmā)
• जलजासनम्: Sambodhana (Addressed/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलज-आसन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया); सम्बोधनार्थे कर्मरूपेण (addressed as object); विग्रहः: जलजे (पद्मे) आसनं यस्य (one whose seat is the lotus; Brahmā)

• युष्मद्वंशोद्भवः: one born of your lineage
• युष्मद्वंशोद्भवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्-वंश-उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा); विग्रहः: युष्माकं वंशात् उद्भवः (born of your lineage)

• तात: O dear one / O father
• तात: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन)

• तालमेघः: Tālamegha
• तालमेघः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल-मेघ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा); विग्रहः: ताल इव मेघः (Tālamegha, a proper name)

• महाबलः: very strong
• महाबलः: Karta (Subject attribute/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-बल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा); ‘तालमेघः’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्; विग्रहः: महत् बलं यस्य (of great strength)

Speaker

Vācaspati

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-khaṇḍa narrative tīrtha-frame

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Vācaspati stands with folded hands before Brahmā seated on a lotus, delivering grave tidings: a powerful being, Tālamegha, has arisen from Brahmā’s own lineage; the court’s mood turns tense.

Characters & Entities

• Vācaspati
• Brahmā (Jalajāsana)
• Tālamegha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even those arising within a sacred lineage can turn toward adharma; therefore discernment and refuge in dharma are essential.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse sits within the Revā Khaṇḍa (Narmadā/Revā sacred geography), though this specific line focuses on the cosmic conflict that frames the Māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it introduces the antagonist (Tālamegha) and the need for protection.