Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 57

Devanagari script

प्राजापत्यामिमां दृष्ट्वा मां यथा प्राकृताः स्त्रियः । भवन्तः स्त्रीबलं मेऽद्य पश्यन्तु दिवि देवताः

Transliteration

prājāpatyāmimāṃ dṛṣṭvā māṃ yathā prākṛtāḥ striyaḥ | bhavantaḥ strībalaṃ me'dya paśyantu divi devatāḥ

Translation

“เมื่อเห็นข้าอยู่ในสภาพปราชาปัตยะนี้ ท่านกลับมองข้าเหมือนหญิงสามัญ วันนี้จงประจักษ์พลังแห่งสตรีของข้า—และขอให้เหล่าเทวะในสวรรค์ได้เห็นด้วย”

Word by Word

• प्राजापत्याम्: the prājāpatyā (Prajāpati-related power/rite)
• प्राजापत्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; ‘प्राजापत्या’ = प्रजापतेः सम्बन्धिनी/प्रजापत्य-विद्या/शक्ति (contextual)

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (प्राजापत्याम्)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• प्राकृताः: ordinary
• प्राकृताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (स्त्रियः)

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• भवन्तः: you (pl., hon.)
• भवन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• स्त्रीबलम्: a woman’s power
• स्त्रीबलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीबल (प्रातिपदिक; स्त्री + बल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्त्रियाः बलम्)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Gen./Dat.), एकवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (of me)

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (today/now)

• पश्यन्तु: let (them/you) see
• पश्यन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• दिवि: in heaven
• दिवि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• देवताः: the gods
• देवताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Unspecified woman (contextual speaker within Revā Khaṇḍa narrative)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revākhāṇḍa (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śāṇḍilī stands resolute, eyes blazing; sages face her; above, devas in the sky observe. The scene suggests imminent miraculous display of power or a vow that compels cosmic attention.

Characters & Entities

• Prajāpati
• Devatāḥ

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Do not judge by outward status; divine power can manifest through those seen as ordinary.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Revā (Narmadā) region is the overarching sacred setting; the verse itself is narrative-focused.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual is prescribed; the emphasis is on recognition of power and the moral weight of one’s gaze/judgment.