Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

वडवामुखसङ्काशं महादेवस्य तन्मुखम् । जिह्वाग्रेण जगत्सर्वं लेलिहानमपश्यत

Transliteration

vaḍavāmukhasaṅkāśaṃ mahādevasya tanmukham | jihvāgreṇa jagatsarvaṃ lelihānamapaśyata

Translation

അവൻ മഹാദേവന്റെ ആ മുഖം ദർശിച്ചു—വഡവാമുഖാഗ്നിയെപ്പോലെ; നാവിന്റെ അഗ്രത്തോടെ സർവ്വജഗത്തെയും ലേലിഹിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ തോന്നി।

Word by Word

• वडवामुखसङ्काशम्: resembling a mare’s mouth (submarine-fire-like)
• वडवामुखसङ्काशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वडवामुख + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘तन्मुखम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य

• महादेवस्य: of Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; संकेत-विशेषणम्

• मुखम्: mouth/face
• मुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• जिह्वाग्रेण: with the tip of the tongue
• जिह्वाग्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वाग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; करणम्

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: entire/all
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘जगत्’ इति विशेष्यस्य

• लेलिहानम्: licking (repeatedly)
• लेलिहानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिह् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तम् (Present active participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘जगत्’ इति कर्मणः अवस्थावाचक-विशेषणम्

• अपश्यत: he saw
• अपश्यत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā) tirtha sphere (Revākhaṇḍa)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: A king (राजेन्द्र) and/or sages in the frame narrative

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A colossal Mahādeva face, mare’s-mouth fire blazing, tongue-tip licking the cosmos; tiny worlds and beings drawn toward the mouth; Brahmā witnessing in stunned reverence.

Characters & Entities

• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Vaḍavāmukha (submarine fire)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

All worlds are impermanent before the Absolute; the terrifying vision urges detachment and surrender to Śiva.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is named; the verse is a cosmic metaphor.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is visionary description supporting contemplation of Śiva’s supremacy.