Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

नारसिंहं महादेवं सर्वदुष्टनिवारणम् । पर्वताग्निसमुद्रस्थं ररक्ष भक्तसत्तमम्

Transliteration

nārasiṃhaṃ mahādevaṃ sarvaduṣṭanivāraṇam | parvatāgnisamudrasthaṃ rarakṣa bhaktasattamam

Translation

ନାରସିଂହ ମହାଦେବ, ସର୍ବଦୁଷ୍ଟନିବାରଣ, ପର୍ବତ–ଅଗ୍ନି–ସମୁଦ୍ର ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା ଭକ୍ତଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠଙ୍କୁ ସେ ରକ୍ଷା କଲେ।

Word by Word

• नारसिंहम्: Narasimha
• नारसिंहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (नरस्य सिंहः) नाम

• महादेवम्: the great god
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वदुष्टनिवारणम्: remover of all wicked (ones)
• सर्वदुष्टनिवारणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + दुष्ट + निवारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (सर्वेषां दुष्टानां निवारणम्) विशेषण

• पर्वताग्निसमुद्रस्थम्: situated amid mountain, fire, and ocean
• पर्वताग्निसमुद्रस्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्वत + अग्नि + समुद्र + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपदसमाहारः + स्थ (located in/among mountains, fire, and ocean)

• ररक्ष: protected
• ररक्ष: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• भक्तसत्तमम्: the best devotee
• भक्तसत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (भक्तानां सत्तमः)

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual narrator within Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa; likely Sūta addressing sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Narasiṃha, the great Lord, stands as a fierce guardian; the devotee is shown enduring ordeals amid mountain, fire, and ocean, yet remains protected—evil held at bay by divine presence.

Characters & Entities

• Nārasiṃha
• Prahlāda (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True devotion is protected in every extreme condition; divine guardianship overrules worldly dangers.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific pilgrimage site is named; the verse is a generalized mahatmya of Nārasiṃha’s protective power.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the emphasis is on devotion (bhakti) and divine protection.