Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 65

Devanagari script

कन्यकेयं सुरश्रेष्ठ समानीता मयाऽधुना । तवार्थाय सुरूपांगी सर्वलक्षणलक्षिता

Transliteration

kanyakeyaṃ suraśreṣṭha samānītā mayā'dhunā | tavārthāya surūpāṃgī sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitā

Translation

„O Bester unter den Göttern, nun habe ich dieses Mädchen deinetwegen herbeigebracht—von schönen Gliedern und mit allen glückverheißenden Merkmalen gezeichnet.“

Word by Word

• कन्यका: the maiden
• कन्यका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyakā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुरश्रेष्ठ: O best of gods
• सुरश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura-śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; ‘सुराणां श्रेष्ठ’

• समानीता: has been brought
• समानीता: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-nīta (कृदन्त; √nī (नी) + सम्+आ, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोगः; ‘brought’ (has been brought)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Agent-in-instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; ‘by me’

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhunā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक) = ‘now/at present’

• तव: for you/your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘of/for you’

• अर्थाय: for the sake (of)
• अर्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे = ‘for the sake/purpose’

• सुरूप-अङ्गी: beautiful-limbed
• सुरूप-अङ्गी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅginī/aṅgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘सुरूपा अङ्गी यस्या’/‘सुरूपाङ्गी’ = having beautiful limbs

• सर्व-लक्षण-लक्षिता: endowed with all auspicious marks
• सर्व-लक्षण-लक्षिता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣita (कृदन्त; √lakṣ (लक्ष्) क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘सर्वलक्षणैः लक्षिता’ = marked with all auspicious signs

Speaker

Unspecified (context suggests a deity addressing Brahmā/Caturmukha)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Suraśreṣṭha / addressed chief deity (in context continuing address to Caturānana)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A maiden with auspicious marks is respectfully presented before a divine figure; the presenter speaks formally, indicating she is brought 'for your sake'. Devas observe as witnesses.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (implied)
• Devas (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Auspiciousness and dharmic intent sanctify actions when aligned with sacred purpose and proper order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse sits within a Tīrthamāhātmya setting in Nāgarakhaṇḍa (exact tirtha name not stated in this single shloka).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It introduces the premise for a dharmic marriage/handfasting (pāṇigraha) that follows in later verses.