Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

क्वचित्प्रियेण भुक्तं यद्रोचते तु मनीषिणाम् । दंपत्योः प्रीतियोगेन संगमः प्रीतिवर्द्धनः

Transliteration

kvacitpriyeṇa bhuktaṃ yadrocate tu manīṣiṇām | daṃpatyoḥ prītiyogena saṃgamaḥ prītivarddhanaḥ

Translation

At times, even what is received from one’s beloved is pleasing to the wise. For husband and wife, union born of mutual affection increases love.

Word by Word

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘sometimes’)

• प्रियेण: by the beloved
• प्रियेण: Karana (Instrument/Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• भुक्तम्: eaten (food)
• भुक्तम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (that which is eaten)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• रोचते: is pleasing
• रोचते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• मनीषिणाम्: of the wise
• मनीषिणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दम्पत्योः: of the couple (husband and wife)
• दम्पत्योः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्पती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (युग्मार्थ), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• प्रीतियोगेन: by the union of affection
• प्रीतियोगेन: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• संगमः: union/meeting
• संगमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रीतिवर्द्धनः: increasing affection
• प्रीतिवर्द्धनः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्द्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘संगमः’)

Speaker

Rājñī (the Queen, continuing speech by context)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: king / audience of the kathā

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A couple in a palace setting, the mood softened: the queen’s firmness transitions into a teaching on prīti; gestures show offering/accepting (a fruit, betel, or cup) symbolizing affectionate exchange.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rightful intimacy is rooted in mutual affection (prīti); love grows through consent and harmony.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is mentioned; the verse focuses on household dharma.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it offers ethical guidance rather than a ritual rule.