Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

अग्निज्वालोज्ज्वलैः शृङ्गैस्त्रिनेत्रा सुपयस्विनी । अग्निपूर्णा ह्यग्निमुखा अग्निघ्राणाग्निलोचना

Transliteration

agnijvālojjvalaiḥ śṛṅgaistrinetrā supayasvinī | agnipūrṇā hyagnimukhā agnighrāṇāgnilocanā

Translation

“มีเขาอันสว่างดุจเปลวอัคคี เป็นตรีเนตร และอุดมด้วยน้ำนม; เปี่ยมด้วยไฟ มีพักตร์เป็นไฟ มีนาสิกเป็นไฟ และมีเนตรเป็นไฟ…”

Word by Word

• अग्नि-ज्वाला-उज्ज्वलैः: with fire-flame-bright
• अग्नि-ज्वाला-उज्ज्वलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + jvālā (प्रातिपदिक) + ujjvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifying शृङ्गैः)

• शृङ्गैः: with horns
• शृङ्गैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• त्रि-नेत्रा: three-eyed
• त्रि-नेत्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying कपिला)

• सु-पयस्विनी: rich in good milk
• सु-पयस्विनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + payasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying कपिला)

• अग्नि-पूर्णा: filled with fire
• अग्नि-पूर्णा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying कपिला)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतुबोधक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• अग्नि-मुखा: fire-faced
• अग्नि-मुखा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying कपिला)

• अग्नि-घ्राणा: fire-nosed
• अग्नि-घ्राणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + ghrāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying कपिला)

• अग्नि-लोचना: fire-eyed
• अग्नि-लोचना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying कपिला)

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya (narrating)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kapilā Tīrtha

Type: kund

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Rājā (Bhārata)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close-up iconographic vision of Kapilā: horns like tongues of flame, a third eye on the forehead, abundant udders symbolizing plenty; the face and eyes glow like fire, with heat-haze around the body.

Characters & Entities

• Kapilā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The sacred is portrayed as both nourishing (milk) and purifying-transformative (fire), revealing tīrtha power as simultaneously gentle and formidable.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kapilā-tīrtha, whose greatness is anchored in the fiery, auspicious manifestation of Kapilā.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription here; it provides a visionary description supporting the tīrtha’s extraordinary sanctity.