Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

पद्मं च तामसं चैव संवर्तोद्वर्तमेव च । महाप्रलयमित्याहुः पुराणे वेदचिन्तकाः

Transliteration

padmaṃ ca tāmasaṃ caiva saṃvartodvartameva ca | mahāpralayamityāhuḥ purāṇe vedacintakāḥ

Translation

പദ്മവും താമസവും, കൂടാതെ സംവർതവും ഉദ്വർത്തവും—‘മഹാപ്രളയം’ എന്ന (പാഠം) കൂടി—ഇങ്ങനെ പുരാണപരമ്പരയിൽ വേദചിന്തകർ പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• पद्मम्: (the) Padma (name)
• पद्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• तामसम्: (the) Tāmasa (name)
• तामसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थ (emphasis)

• संवर्तोद्वर्तम्: Saṃvarta and Udvarta (names)
• संवर्तोद्वर्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवर्त + उद्वर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (saṃvarta + udvarta)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थ

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

• महाप्रलयम्: the great dissolution
• महाप्रलयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् प्रलयः)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणार्थ (quotative)

• आहुः: they say/call
• आहुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• पुराणे: in the Purāṇa
• पुराणे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वेदचिन्तकाः: thinkers/ponderers of the Veda
• वेदचिन्तकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + चिन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य चिन्तकाः)

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā)

Type: river

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Purāṇa-inquirer

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contemplative teaching scene transitions into a visionary backdrop: swirling pralaya waters, dark clouds, and cosmic wind motifs, while the sage remains calm, indicating knowledge that transcends dissolution.

Characters & Entities

• Veda-cintakāḥ (Vedic authorities)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Scriptural tradition is curated by learned guardians; names and classifications help preserve vast teachings across ages.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None directly; the verse continues the Revā Khaṇḍa’s account of Purāṇic transmission.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.