Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 61

Devanagari script

रत्नपुच्छा दुग्धवती घंटाभरणभूषिता । अर्चिता गंधपुष्पाद्यैः सुप्रसन्नाऽमृतप्रजा

Transliteration

ratnapucchā dugdhavatī ghaṃṭābharaṇabhūṣitā | arcitā gaṃdhapuṣpādyaiḥ suprasannā'mṛtaprajā

Translation

রত্নশোভিত লেজযুক্তা, দুধে সমৃদ্ধা, ঘণ্টা ও অলংকারে ভূষিতা; গন্ধ, পুষ্প প্রভৃতিতে অর্চিতা—অতি প্রসন্না, অমৃতসম সন্তানযুক্তা।

Word by Word

• रत्नपुच्छा: having a jeweled tail
• रत्नपुच्छा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + पुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय: ‘रत्नं पुच्छे यस्याः’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• दुग्धवती: milk-yielding
• दुग्धवती: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: वतुप्/वत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• घंटाभरणभूषिता: adorned with bell-ornaments
• घंटाभरणभूषिता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घण्टा (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (घण्टाभरणैः भूषिता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; कृदन्त-आधारित विशेषण

• अर्चिता: worshipped, honored
• अर्चिता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• गंधपुष्पाद्यैः: with fragrances, flowers, and the like
• गंधपुष्पाद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः ‘गन्धपुष्पादि’ (fragrance, flowers, etc.); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• सुप्रसन्ना: very pleased, serene
• सुप्रसन्ना: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण

• अमृतप्रजा: having nectar-like offspring
• अमृतप्रजा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय: ‘अमृतरूपा प्रजा/सन्तानं यस्याः’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

Speaker

Brahmā (deduced: Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa context—Brahmā addressing Nārada)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ayodhyā-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The cow stands serene, jeweled tail, abundant udder, bells and ornaments; devotees offer sandal paste and flowers; the atmosphere is calm and auspicious, suggesting ‘amṛta-prājā’ (excellent offspring).

Characters & Entities

• Gauḥ

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Charity becomes worship when the gift is honored with devotion and auspicious offerings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ayodhyā, presented as a powerful setting for bhakti-infused dāna.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Adorning and honoring the cow with bells, ornaments, flowers, fragrances, and related upacāras before gifting.