Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

कृताञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा प्रणम्य शिरसा विभुम् । व्यापिनं परमेशानमस्तौषमभयप्रदम्

Transliteration

kṛtāñjalipuṭo bhūtvā praṇamya śirasā vibhum | vyāpinaṃ parameśānamastauṣamabhayapradam

Translation

我合掌恭敬，俯首礼拜那位大能者——遍一切处的至上自在天（伊沙那）——我赞颂他，这位赐予无畏者。

Word by Word

• kṛta-añjali-puṭaḥ: with hands folded
• kṛta-añjali-puṭaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (√kṛ, क्त) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक) + puṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: ‘कृतः अञ्जलिपुटः येन सः’ (hands folded)

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु), क्त्वा (absolutive)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा), अव्यय; ‘having become’

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√nam (धातु), ल्यप् (absolutive)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्), अव्यय; ‘having bowed’

• śirasā: with (my) head
• śirasā: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• vibhum: the Lord; the mighty one
• vibhum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• vyāpinam: all-pervading
• vyāpinam: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (vibhum/parameśānam)

• parameśānam: the Supreme Lord
• parameśānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama-īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘परमः ईशानः’

• astauṣam: I praised
• astauṣam: Kriyā (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √stu (धातु), luṅ (लकार)
• Form: भूतकाल (लुङ्/aorist), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• abhaya-pradam: granting fearlessness
• abhaya-pradam: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (√dā, agent/adj)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘अभयं प्रददाति’

Speaker

Narrator (first-person devotee within the story)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-associated Śiva-sannidhi (unnamed)

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: King (rājendra)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: On the boat or at the riverbank, the devotee stands with folded hands, bows to the Supreme Īśāna—depicted as all-pervading radiance or a linga—then offers a hymn of praise that grants fearlessness.

Characters & Entities

• Parameśāna (Śiva/Īśāna)
• Vibhu (Lord)
• Abhaya (fearlessness)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotional surrender (añjali and praṇāma) to Śiva yields inner fearlessness and steadiness amid uncertainty.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Revā context remains central, but the verse directly glorifies Śiva as the indwelling protector associated with the tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Añjali (joined palms), praṇāma (bowing), and stuti (praise) as devotional acts.