Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

तपस्विभिर्महाभागैः कामक्रोधविवर्जितैः । तत्राहं वर्षमयुतं तपः कृत्वा सुदारुणम्

Transliteration

tapasvibhirmahābhāgaiḥ kāmakrodhavivarjitaiḥ | tatrāhaṃ varṣamayutaṃ tapaḥ kṛtvā sudāruṇam

Translation

അവിടെ കാമക്രോധവിവർജിതരായ മഹാഭാഗ തപസ്വികളുടെ മദ്ധ്യേ, ഞാൻ പത്തായിരം വർഷം അത്യന്തം കഠിനമായ തപസ്സ് ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• तपस्विभिः: by ascetics
• तपस्विभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• महा-भागैः: by the very fortunate
• महा-भागैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; विशेषण

• काम-क्रोध-विवर्जितैः: by those free from desire and anger
• काम-क्रोध-विवर्जितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (कामक्रोधयोः विवर्जिताः) विशेषण; विवर्जित = वि+वृज् (धातु) क्त

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वर्षम्: a year
• वर्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (measure of time)

• अयुतम्: ten thousand
• अयुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (numeral adjective)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक

• सु-दारुणम्: very severe
• सु-दारुणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (very severe) विशेषण

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya (narrating to Yudhiṣṭhira, inferred)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Narmadā-tīra tapas-sthāna

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: ‘mahābhāga’ interlocutor

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A powerful ascetic sits in deep meditation on the Narmadā bank, surrounded by serene tapasvins; seasons pass symbolically—sun, rain, and wind—while the river remains constant; the ascetic’s posture is unwavering.

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Yudhiṣṭhira

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True tapas is anchored in inner conquest—especially renouncing desire and anger.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Narmadā-side sacred area within the Revā Khaṇḍa, portrayed as a powerful tapas-field.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Austerity (tapas) is highlighted; the verse models long-term penance rather than a specific ceremonial act.