Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

स्वेच्छाचारो भवेर्वत्स स्वर्गे पातालगोचरे । मर्त्ये वा भ्रम वै योगिन्न केनापि निवार्यसे

Transliteration

svecchācāro bhavervatsa svarge pātālagocare | martye vā bhrama vai yoginna kenāpi nivāryase

Translation

വത്സാ, നീ സ്വേച്ഛാനുസാരം പ്രവർത്തിക്കും—സ്വർഗ്ഗത്തിലും പാതാളഗോചര പ്രദേശങ്ങളിലും. ഹേ യോഗീ, മർത്ത്യലോകത്തിലും സഞ്ചരിക്ക; നിന്നെ ആരും തടയുകയില്ല.

Word by Word

• स्वेच्छाचारः: free conduct (as per one’s will)
• स्वेच्छाचारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (स्वेच्छा-आचारः = one’s own-will conduct)

• भवेः: be
• भवेः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; वैदिक/आर्ष रूप ‘भवेः’ (be!)

• वत्स: O dear child
• वत्स: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• स्वर्गे: in heaven
• स्वर्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• पातालगोचरे: in the region of Pātāla
• पातालगोचरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक) + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘पाताल-गोचर’ = in the realm/reach of Pātāla; स्वर्गे इति सह समुच्चित अधिकरण

• मर्त्ये: in the mortal world
• मर्त्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle: or)

• भ्रम: wander
• भ्रम: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/अवधानार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• योगिन्: O yogin
• योगिन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• केनापि: by anyone
• केनापि: Karana (Agent/instrument in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘अपि’ सह अनिश्चितार्थ (by anyone)

• निवार्यसे: you are prevented/restrained
• निवार्यसे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√वृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (you are restrained)

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nārada

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva grants Nārada the boon of unhindered wandering through heaven, underworld, and earth; imagery of three realms subtly layered behind the figures.

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara (Śiva)
• Nārada
• Svarga
• Pātāla
• Martya-loka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When granted by the Lord, spiritual freedom becomes a dharmic instrument—unobstructed movement used to spread devotion and right counsel.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not directly; it is part of the same Revā Khaṇḍa sequence that culminates in a celebrated tīrtha’s establishment.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse records a boon of unobstructed movement rather than a prescribed rite.