Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

सत्यं रथध्वजे शौचं दमं रक्षां समन्ततः । रथं देवमयं कृत्वा देवदेवो महेश्वरः

Transliteration

satyaṃ rathadhvaje śaucaṃ damaṃ rakṣāṃ samantataḥ | rathaṃ devamayaṃ kṛtvā devadevo maheśvaraḥ

Translation

അദ്ദേഹം രഥധ്വജത്തിൽ സത്യത്തെ സ്ഥാപിച്ചു; ശൗചവും ദമവും ചുറ്റുമെല്ലാം രക്ഷയായി ആക്കി. ഇങ്ങനെ ദേവമയ രഥം നിർമ്മിച്ച് ദേവദേവനായ മഹേശ്വരൻ (അഗ്രസരിച്ചു).

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• रथध्वजे: on the chariot-banner
• रथध्वजे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समास: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (‘on the chariot-flag’)

• शौचम्: purity
• शौचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• दमम्: self-control
• दमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• रक्षाम्: protection
• रक्षाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• समन्ततः: all around
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana (Locative sense/स्थान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: परितोऽर्थक अव्यय (adverb: ‘all around’)

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• देवमयम्: divine, made of gods
• देवमयम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (‘made of/consisting of gods/divine’)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• देवदेवः: God of gods
• देवदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘god of gods’)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (देवदेवस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A divine chariot stands ready: on its banner flutters ‘Satya’ as a radiant emblem; around it forms a protective aura labeled ‘Śauca’ and ‘Dama’. Maheśvara, serene and sovereign, completes the god-made vehicle, poised to proceed.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Satya (Truth)
• Śauca (Purity)
• Dama (Self-restraint)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Truth, purity, and self-restraint are portrayed as the true ‘armor’ and protection—core Purāṇic dharma that safeguards the pilgrim and devotee.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Revā (Narmadā) sacred region is the larger frame; this verse glorifies inner dharma as the essence of tīrtha-like purification.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual act is commanded; the verse prescribes virtues (satya, śauca, dama) as the foundational discipline.