Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

ततस्तदुत्तरे कूले एरण्ड्याः सङ्गमे शुभे । नियमस्था विशालाक्षी शाकाहारेण सुन्दरि

Transliteration

tatastaduttare kūle eraṇḍyāḥ saṅgame śubhe | niyamasthā viśālākṣī śākāhāreṇa sundari

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം നർമദയുടെ ഉത്തരതീരത്ത് എരണ്ടി നദിയുടെ ശുഭസംഗമത്തിൽ, ഹേ വിശാലാക്ഷി സുന്ദരി, അവൾ നിയമനിഷ്ഠയായി ശാകാഹാരത്തിൽ ജീവിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Discourse adverb/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (then/from there)

• तत्: in that (place/direction)
• तत्: Adhikarana (Qualifier/अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifies उत्तरे)

• उत्तरे: on the northern (side)
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (Location-qualifier/अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifies कूले)

• कूले: on the bank
• कूले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• एरण्ड्याः: of Eraṇḍī (river/stream)
• एरण्ड्याः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एरण्डी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सङ्गमे: at the confluence
• सङ्गमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: Adhikarana (Location-qualifier/अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifies सङ्गमे)

• नियमस्था: abiding in observances
• नियमस्था: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियम + स्था (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुष (नियमे स्थिता); विशेषण

• विशालाक्षी: the wide-eyed lady
• विशालाक्षी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाल + अक्षी (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समास

• शाकाहारेण: by a diet of vegetables
• शाकाहारेण: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक + आहार (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (शाकस्य आहारः)

• सुन्दरि: O beautiful one
• सुन्दरि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Śiva (deduced: consistent vocatives to Devī)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Eraṇḍī–Narmadā Saṅgama

Type: sangam

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Viśālākṣī / Sundarī (addressed female interlocutor)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A female ascetic on the north bank at a river confluence, seated on kuśa grass beneath a tree, simple garments, waterpots nearby; the two rivers meet in a bright, auspicious swirl; offerings and a small altar indicate observance.

Characters & Entities

• Narmadā
• Eraṇḍī (river)
• Saṅgama (confluence)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Tīrtha-sevā is strengthened by niyama (disciplined living); place and practice together intensify spiritual merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The auspicious saṅgama (confluence) of the Eraṇḍī with the Narmadā, on the northern bank.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Observance of niyamas (austere disciplines), including śākāhāra (vegetarian/vegetable-based diet).