Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

शतयोजन विस्तारमशक्ताः सर्ववानराः । तर्तुं प्लवोडुपैरेनं समुद्रमतिभीषणम्

Transliteration

śatayojana vistāramaśaktāḥ sarvavānarāḥ | tartuṃ plavoḍupairenaṃ samudramatibhīṣaṇam

Translation

วานรทั้งปวงไม่อาจข้ามมหาสมุทรอันน่าสะพรึงยิ่งนี้ ซึ่งกว้างไกลร้อยโยชน์ ได้ด้วยแพและเรือน้อยทั้งหลาย

Word by Word

• शतयोजन: a hundred yojanas (in extent)
• शतयोजन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत + योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रातिपदिकम्; ‘विस्तारम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (measure-compound)

• विस्तारम्: expanse/width
• विस्तारम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• अशक्ताः: unable
• अशक्ताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सर्ववानराः: all the monkeys
• सर्ववानराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; ‘सर्वे वानराः’

• तर्तुम्: to cross
• तर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्तम् (infinitive)

• प्लव: raft
• प्लव: Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; समासपूर्वपदम् (first member in compound)

• उडुपैः: by boats
• उडुपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उडुप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• एनम्: this (one)/it
• एनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• समुद्रम्: ocean
• समुद्रम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• अतिभीषणम्: very terrifying
• अतिभीषणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिभीषण (प्रातिपदिक: अति + भीषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narrator

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mahodadhi at Setu-front

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/assembly

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A panoramic view of the terrifying ocean stretching vast; tiny rafts and boats appear inadequate; vanaras look overwhelmed; Rama stands firm, contemplating the next dharmic step.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Samudra (Ocean)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When human means are insufficient, dharma turns toward divine order—seeking a higher, sanctioned method rather than reckless effort.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Setu oceanic expanse itself, whose vastness heightens the later glory of the Setu as a sacred passage.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it establishes the practical and spiritual need for a divinely approved path.