Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

पुत्रपौत्रवधूभिश्च भृत्यवर्गयुतस्य च । पत्नीहीनानि नो रेजुर्गृहाणि गृहमेधिनाम्

Transliteration

putrapautravadhūbhiśca bhṛtyavargayutasya ca | patnīhīnāni no rejurgṛhāṇi gṛhamedhinām

Translation

Selbst wenn das Haus eines Haushälters mit Söhnen, Enkeln, Schwiegertöchtern und einer Schar von Dienern erfüllt ist, erglänzt ein Heim ohne Gattin nicht.

Word by Word

• पुत्रपौत्रवधूभिः: with sons, grandsons, and daughters-in-law
• पुत्रपौत्रवधूभिः: Sahakāraka/Instrument (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra + pautra + vadhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (वधू-प्रधान), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (sons, grandsons, daughters-in-law)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• भृत्यवर्गयुतस्य: of one accompanied by a group of servants
• भृत्यवर्गयुतस्य: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛtya + varga + yuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (भृत्यवर्गेण युतः) इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (to गृहमेधिनाम्)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• पत्नीहीनानि: devoid of a wife
• पत्नीहीनानि: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patnī + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (पत्नीया हीनानि) इति पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (to गृहाणि)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (निपात)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• रेजुः: shone
• रेजुः: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rāj (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• गृहाणि: houses
• गृहाणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गृहमेधिनाम्: of householders
• गृहमेधिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha + medhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (गृहे मेधी) इति तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Sūta (narrative voice expressing gṛhastha perspective)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sūta

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A large household scene: sons, grandsons, daughters-in-law, and servants present, yet the central space feels empty—an unlit lamp or vacant seat symbolizing the absent wife.

Characters & Entities

• gṛhamedhin (householder)
• patnī (wife)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In gṛhastha-dharma, the spouse is central to auspicious life and religious duty; prosperity without that dharmic companionship is portrayed as incomplete.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a dharma-centered reflection on household life.