Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

जपामि रामनामांकमवातरं ससप्तमम् । चतुर्विशतिसंख्याकान्प्रादुर्भावान्हरेर्गुणान्

Transliteration

japāmi rāmanāmāṃkamavātaraṃ sasaptamam | caturviśatisaṃkhyākānprādurbhāvānharerguṇān

Translation

ഞാൻ രാമനാമം ജപിക്കുന്നു—അത് (ഹരിയുടെ) ഏഴാം അവതാരം; കൂടാതെ ഹരിയുടെ ഇരുപത്തിനാലു പ്രാദുർഭാവങ്ങളും ഗുണങ്ങളും ധ്യാനിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• जपामि: I recite
• जपामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• राम-नाम-अङ्कम्: the mark/insignia of the name ‘Rāma’
• राम-नाम-अङ्कम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative; ‘Rāma-name-mark/insignia’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अवतारम्: incarnation
• अवतारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• स-सप्तमम्: including the seventh
• स-सप्तमम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘with the seventh’ = ‘including the seventh’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अवतारम् इति विशेषणम्

• चतुर्विंशति-संख्याकान्: numbering twenty-four
• चतुर्विंशति-संख्याकान्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्विंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + संख्याक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (numeral-determinative); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; गुणान् इति विशेषणम्

• प्रादुर्भावान्: manifestations/appearances
• प्रादुर्भावान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रादुर्भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• गुणान्: qualities
• गुणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

Speaker

Śiva (Śambhu)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śambhu performs japa of ‘Rāma’ with mālā; behind him appear symbolic vignettes of Hari’s avatāras, and a mandala-like ring of twenty-four emblems/qualities encircles the scene, indicating structured contemplation.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Rāma
• Hari (Viṣṇu)
• Avatāra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rāma-nāma is upheld as a powerful focus of japa, and contemplation of the Lord’s avatāras deepens devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tīrtha) is glorified here?

A specific location is not stated in this verse; the emphasis is on nāma-japa and avatāra-smaraṇa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Japa of Rāma-nāma and contemplation of Hari’s manifestations/qualities are prescribed.