Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

पद्मानना पद्मवर्णा पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणा । ध्यातव्या ब्राह्मणैर्नित्यं क्षत्रवैश्यैर्यथाविधि

Transliteration

padmānanā padmavarṇā padmapatranibhekṣaṇā | dhyātavyā brāhmaṇairnityaṃ kṣatravaiśyairyathāvidhi

Translation

പദ്മമുഖി, പദ്മവർണിണി, പദ്മപത്രസദൃശനേത്രയുള്ളവൾ—ബ്രാഹ്മണർ നിത്യം ധ്യാനിക്കേണ്ടവൾ; ക്ഷത്രിയരും വൈശ്യരും വിധിപ്രകാരം ധ്യാനിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• पद्मानना: lotus-faced
• पद्मानना: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + आनन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (पद्मम् इव आननं यस्याः)

• पद्मवर्णा: lotus-colored
• पद्मवर्णा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (पद्म इव वर्णः यस्याः)

• पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणा: having eyes like lotus-petals
• पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्मपत्र + निभ + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (पद्मपत्रनिभम् ईक्षणं यस्याः)

• ध्यातव्या: should be meditated upon
• ध्यातव्या: Kriya (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (to be meditated upon)

• ब्राह्मणैः: by Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणैः: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयुक्तम्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• क्षत्रवैश्यैः: by Kṣatriyas and Vaiśyas
• क्षत्रवैश्यैः: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय + वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक; समाहार-द्वन्द्व)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (क्षत्रियाश्च वैश्याश्च)

• यथाविधि: according to the prescribed rule
• यथाविधि: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + विधि (अव्ययीभाव-समास)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (according to rule)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Revā Khaṇḍa narrative instruction)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A meditative depiction of Sāvitrī: lotus face and complexion, lotus-petal eyes; devotees (Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya) performing daily dhyāna at dawn/dusk.

Characters & Entities

• Sāvitrī
• Sandhyā
• Brāhmaṇa
• Kṣatriya
• Vaiśya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Daily contemplation of Sāvitrī/Sandhyā refines the mind and anchors dharma through disciplined remembrance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader context is the Revā (Narmadā) region; this verse itself focuses on Sandhyā practice rather than naming a site.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Nitya-dhyāna (daily meditation) on Sandhyā/Sāvitrī, with observance according to one’s prescribed rite (yathāvidhi).