Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

शर्वलब्धवरो दैवात्पुनस्तेपे महत्तपः । रम्ये सरस्वतीतीरे तरणाय भवार्णवात्

Transliteration

śarvalabdhavaro daivātpunastepe mahattapaḥ | ramye sarasvatītīre taraṇāya bhavārṇavāt

Translation

శర్వుడు (శివుడు) దయవశాత్తు వరం పొందిన వాడు, అతడు మళ్లీ మహత్తపస్సు ఆచరించెను. భవసాగరాన్ని దాటుటకై రమ్యమైన సరస్వతీ తీరమున తపస్సు చేసెను.

Word by Word

• शर्वलब्धवरः: he who obtained a boon from Śarva (Śiva)
• शर्वलब्धवरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व + लब्ध + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: शर्व-लब्ध-वर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-सम्भव); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दैवात्: by fate
• दैवात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभाव (ablatival adverb): हेतु/निमित्तार्थे (by fate/from destiny)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• तेपे: performed austerity
• तेपे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (तपः-विशेषण), द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• रम्ये: beautiful
• रम्ये: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (तीरे)

• सरस्वतीतीरे: on the bank of the Sarasvatī
• सरस्वतीतीरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: सरस्वती-तीर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तरणाय: for crossing
• तरणाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• भवार्णवात्: from the ocean of worldly existence
• भवार्णवात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: भव-अर्णव (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; likely Sūta continuing the account)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Sarasvatī-tīra (general)

Type: riverbank/ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Lohāsura performs fierce austerities on a beautiful Sarasvatī bank—still waters, reeds, hermitage trees—seeking to cross saṃsāra.

Characters & Entities

• Śarva (Śiva)
• Sarasvatī (river)
• Lohāsura (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Tapas performed at sacred riverbanks is portrayed as a means toward liberation—crossing the ‘bhavārṇava’—though inner intent remains crucial.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Sarasvatī riverbank (Sarasvatī-tīra) is presented as a spiritually potent setting for austerity.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Great tapas (austerity) is the practice emphasized; no specific vrata or dāna is detailed in this verse.