Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे सीदयामो महामुने । सरित्सागरशैलान्तं जगत्संशुष्यते द्विज

Transliteration

ūcuḥ prāñjalayaḥ sarve sīdayāmo mahāmune | saritsāgaraśailāntaṃ jagatsaṃśuṣyate dvija

Translation

Все, сложив ладони, сказали: «Мы погибаем, о великий мудрец. Весь мир — реки, океаны и даже горные области — иссыхает, о дважды-рождённый».

Word by Word

• ūcuḥ: they said
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु √वच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• prāñjalayaḥ: with joined palms
• prāñjalayaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक; प्र + अञ्जलि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masc.), प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• sīdayāmaḥ: we are afflicted / we languish
• sīdayāmaḥ: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sad (धातु √सद्)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), बहुवचनम्

• mahāmune: O great sage
• mahāmune: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-muni (प्रातिपदिक; महा + मुनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचनम्

• sarit-sāgara-śaila-antam: up to the rivers, oceans, and mountains (i.e., everywhere)
• sarit-sāgara-śaila-antam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit + sāgara + śaila + anta (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; समासः (अन्तं = पर्यन्तम्)

• jagat: the world
• jagat: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• saṃśuṣyate: is drying up completely
• saṃśuṣyate: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śuṣ (धातु √शुष्)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः सम्

• dvija: O twice-born (brahmin)
• dvija: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्

Speaker

The gathered sages (ṛṣis) addressing the great sage (mahāmuni/viprendra)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of brāhmaṇas and townsfolk stand with folded hands before a great sage; cracked earth, shrunken riverbeds, and distant mountains under a harsh sky convey the drying of rivers, oceans, and highlands.

Characters & Entities

• Ṛṣis
• Rivers
• Oceans
• Mountains

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In collective suffering, dharmic response begins with humility, prayerful appeal, and seeking guidance from realized elders.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tirtha is named in the verse; it sets up the movement toward Revā/Narmadā’s bank as a saving refuge.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The gesture of prāñjali (folded hands) indicates supplication; no formal rite is specified.