Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

अक्षयश्चाव्ययश्चैव तव भक्तिपुरःसरः । धर्मे मतिं च मे नित्यं ददस्व परमेश्वर

Transliteration

akṣayaścāvyayaścaiva tava bhaktipuraḥsaraḥ | dharme matiṃ ca me nityaṃ dadasva parameśvara

Translation

നിന്റെ ഭക്തി മുൻപന്തിയിലിരിക്കെ ഞാൻ അക്ഷയനും അവ്യയനും ആകട്ടെ. ഹേ പരമേശ്വരാ, എനിക്ക് നിത്യം ധർമ്മത്തിൽ സ്ഥിരമായ മതി ദാനമരുളണമേ।

Word by Word

• अक्षयः: imperishable
• अक्षयः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (भक्तिपुरःसरः इत्यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अव्ययः: unchanging
• अव्ययः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भक्तिपुरःसरः: preceded by devotion
• भक्तिपुरःसरः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति-पुरःसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भक्तिः पुरःसरा यस्य/भक्त्या पुरःसरः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (अहं/मतिः इत्यर्थे भावः)

• धर्मे: in dharma
• धर्मे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• मतिम्: understanding, inclination
• मतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) एकवचन; दातृ-सम्बन्धे (to/for me)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always)

• ददस्व: grant
• ददस्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• परमेश्वर: O Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारय (परमः ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Yakṣa (Kubera)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-tīrtha (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Parameśvara (Śiva)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The yakṣa’s petition deepens: he asks for imperishability and unwavering dharma-minded devotion; Śiva-Umā listen with composed compassion.

Characters & Entities

• Kubera
• Śiva (Parameśvara)
• Dharma
• Bhakti

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even when seeking prosperity, the Purāṇa prioritizes bhakti and dharma—asking first for a righteous mind and devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The tīrtha’s sanctity is reinforced as the place where dharma-centered boons are sought from Śiva.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A devotional prescription in intent: keep bhakti foremost and seek nitya dharma-mati as the highest safeguard for any boon.