Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

नर्मदायास्तटे रम्ये पुरे नर्मपुरे पुरा । पुरारिभक्तः पुण्यात्माऽभवद्विश्वानरो मुनिः

Transliteration

narmadāyāstaṭe ramye pure narmapure purā | purāribhaktaḥ puṇyātmā'bhavadviśvānaro muniḥ

Translation

往昔，在秀丽的那尔玛达河岸、名为那尔玛普尔的城中，住着圣贤毗湿瓦那罗（Viśvānara）——心灵清净，虔奉三城之敌（湿婆，Śiva）。

Word by Word

• नर्मदायाः: of (the river) Narmadā
• नर्मदायाः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तटे: on the bank
• तटे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• रम्ये: beautiful, delightful
• रम्ये: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (तटे)

• पुरे: in the city
• पुरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• नर्मपुरे: in Narmapura
• नर्मपुरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्म + पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नर्मस्य पुरम्)

• पुरा: formerly, once
• पुरा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• पुरारि-भक्तः: a devotee of Purāri (Śiva)
• पुरारि-भक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरारि + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुरारिणः भक्तः)

• पुण्यात्मा: of holy nature
• पुण्यात्मा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (मुनिः)

• अभवत्: was, became
• अभवत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• विश्वानरः: Viśvānara
• विश्वानरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Gaṇas (narrating)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Narmadā

Type: river

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka/ṛṣis (typical frame; not explicit here)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A tranquil Narmadā riverbank with flowering trees and a small ancient town in the background; the sage Viśvānara sits in meditation, matted hair and ascetic garb, with subtle iconographic hints of Śiva (tripuṇḍra, rudrākṣa, or a distant liṅga shrine).

Characters & Entities

• Narmadā
• Narmapur (Narmapura)
• Viśvānara (sage)
• Śiva (Purāri)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion to Śiva (Purāri) and purity of life form the foundation for higher attainments described in sacred narratives.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Narmadā riverbank and the city of Narmapur are presented as sanctified settings that nurture Śaiva devotion.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; the verse establishes the devotee-sage and the sacred locale as the background for ensuing dharma teaching.