Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम् । तदा विज्ञापयामासुर्देवा वह्निपुरोगमाः

Transliteration

praṇamya śirasā devaṃ brahmāṇaṃ parameṣṭhinam | tadā vijñāpayāmāsurdevā vahnipurogamāḥ

Translation

பரமேஷ்டியான தெய்வப் பிரம்மாவை தலைவணங்கி வணங்கி, அக்னி முன்னணியில் தேவர்கள் அப்போது தங்கள் வேண்டுதலை விண்ணப்பித்தனர்।

Word by Word

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• शिरसा: with (their) head
• शिरसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ब्रह्माणम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• परमेष्ठिनम्: the supreme lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्ठिनम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ब्रह्माणम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• विज्ञापयामासुः: they informed/represented
• विज्ञापयामासुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा + णिच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• वह्नि: Agni (fire-god)
• वह्नि: Karta within compound
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• पुरोगमाः: having Agni in front / led by Agni
• पुरोगमाः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरः + ग (धातु) → पुरोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: ‘पुरोगम’ (going in front) इति कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समासः—वह्नि-पुरोगम (तत्पुरुष: ‘Agni as leader’)

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya (continuing narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Agni at the front, flames subdued in reverence, leads the devas who bow with heads lowered before four-faced Brahmā seated on a lotus; hands folded, bodies inclined, a moment of solemn petition.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Parameṣṭhin
• Agni (Vahni)
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Humility and proper approach to divine authority—bowing and truthful petition—are upheld as dharmic conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; it prepares for Brahmā’s guidance toward Revā/Narmadā-related sacred practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

An act of reverence (praṇāma) is described; the main ritual (tapas/snānā) appears in subsequent verses.