Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

कर्णान्तप्राप्तनेत्राभ्यां पिबन्तीवाथ कामिनः । चन्द्रताम्बूलसौरभ्यैराकर्षन्तीव मन्मथम्

Transliteration

karṇāntaprāptanetrābhyāṃ pibantīvātha kāminaḥ | candratāmbūlasaurabhyairākarṣantīva manmatham

Translation

Mit Augen, die bis an die Ohren zu reichen schienen, trank sie gleichsam die Liebenden mit ihrem Blick; und mit dem mondgleichen Duft ihres Betels schien sie selbst Manmatha zu sich zu ziehen.

Word by Word

• कर्णान्तप्राप्तनेत्राभ्याम्: with (her) two eyes reaching the ear-side (i.e., sidelong eyes)
• कर्णान्तप्राप्तनेत्राभ्याम्: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण-अन्त-प्राप्त-नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक; प्राप्त = √प्राप् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), द्विवचन; समासः—कर्णान्ते प्राप्ते नेत्रे यस्याः ताभ्याम् (by the two eyes that have reached the ear-end/side)

• पिबन्ती: drinking (as if)
• पिबन्ती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तवत् प्रयोगः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (present participle used adjectivally)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• कामिनः: lovers
• कामिनः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (object of 'pibantī' in poetic sense)

• चन्द्रताम्बूलसौरभ्यैः: with the fragrance of moon-like betel
• चन्द्रताम्बूलसौरभ्यैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र-ताम्बूल-सौरभ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—चन्द्रस्य ताम्बूलस्य सौरभ्यैः (with the fragrance of moon-like betel)

• आकर्षन्ती: attracting/drawing
• आकर्षन्ती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present participle) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• मन्मथम्: Manmatha (Cupid)
• मन्मथम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्मथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator in Revā Khaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A young woman with elongated, expressive eyes glances sideways as if ‘drinking’ the onlookers; a faint, cool ‘moonlike’ aura suggests the fragrance of betel, while even Kāma/Manmatha appears subtly drawn toward her.

Characters & Entities

• Kāminaḥ (lovers)
• Manmatha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Extraordinary charm is portrayed as a potent force; Purāṇic narratives often use such depictions to set up later dharmic tests and turning points.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is named in this verse; it is a descriptive segment within the Revā Khaṇḍa narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse.