Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 69

Devanagari script

नारीनाम तपोविघ्नं पूर्वं सृष्टं स्वयंभुवा । अर्गला स्वर्गमार्गस्य सोपानं नरकस्य च

Transliteration

nārīnāma tapovighnaṃ pūrvaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ svayaṃbhuvā | argalā svargamārgasya sopānaṃ narakasya ca

Translation

Die Frau wurde einst von Svayambhū (Brahmā) als Hindernis für Tapas erschaffen: als Riegel auf dem Weg zum Himmel und als Treppe hinab zur Hölle.

Word by Word

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive); बहुवचन

• तपोविघ्नम्: obstacle to austerity
• तपोविघ्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + विघ्न (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘तपसः विघ्नः’)

• पूर्वम्: formerly; earlier
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: ‘formerly/earlier’)

• सृष्टम्: created
• सृष्टम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; भावे—‘was created’

• स्वयंभुवा: by the Self-born (Brahmā)
• स्वयंभुवा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयंभू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental); एकवचन

• अर्गला: bolt; bar; obstruction
• अर्गला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्गला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• स्वर्गमार्गस्य: of the path to heaven
• स्वर्गमार्गस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘स्वर्गस्य मार्गः’)

• सोपानम्: stair; step
• सोपानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोपान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• नरकस्य: of hell
• नरकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

Speaker

Nārada (as recalled/reported within Pulastya’s narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Arbuda-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A stern ascetic delivers a harsh maxim, finger raised in admonition; behind him symbolic imagery: a gate to heaven barred, and steps descending into darkness.

Characters & Entities

• Svayambhū (Brahmā)
• Nārada

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It uses strong allegory to caution ascetics that attachment and indulgence can obstruct spiritual ascent and lead to downfall.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in the verse; it belongs to the Arbuda Khaṇḍa’s broader sacred narrative context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; the focus is on ethical restraint and guarding tapas.