Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

सदा पौनर्भवा कन्या वर्ज नीया कुलाधमा । वाचा दत्ता मनोदत्ता कृतकौतुकमंगला

Transliteration

sadā paunarbhavā kanyā varja nīyā kulādhamā | vācā dattā manodattā kṛtakautukamaṃgalā

Translation

A maiden who is repeatedly “returned” and given again in marriage should always be avoided as a bride by one who upholds the dharma of the family. Likewise, a girl already given by word (promised), given in mind (accepted inwardly), or for whom auspicious betrothal rites have been performed, should not be taken by another.

Word by Word

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of time)

• पौनर्भवा: (a girl) of remarriage/second union; ‘paunarbhavā’
• पौनर्भवा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौनर्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (feminine nominative singular adjective)

• कन्या: girl/maiden
• कन्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (feminine nominative singular)

• वर्जनीया: to be avoided
• वर्जनीया: Vidhaya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्जनीय (प्रातिपदिक; √वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु) + अनीय)
• Form: कृदन्त (अनीयत्-प्रत्यय; gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be avoided)

• कुलाधमा: the lowest/disgrace of the family
• कुलाधमा: Vidhaya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल + अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कुलस्य अधमः/अधमा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (feminine nominative singular)

• वाचा: by speech/verbally
• वाचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• दत्ता: given
• दत्ता: Vidhaya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• मनः: by mind/mentally
• मनः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद-रूप (instrumental singular used as first member)

• दत्ता: given
• दत्ता: Vidhaya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• कृत: performed/done
• कृत: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिकरूप; समासपूर्वपद (done/made)

• कौतुक: ceremonial rite/festivity
• कौतुक: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौतुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक; समासमध्यपद (ceremony/rite; festive act)

• मङ्गला: having auspicious rites performed
• मङ्गला: Vidhaya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कृत-कौतुक-मङ्गला = यस्याः मङ्गलं कृतकौतुकम्/कृतकौतुकं मङ्गलं); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative legal/dharma instruction within the Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A formal betrothal setting: elders seated, a maiden with auspicious thread/bracelet (kautuka), turmeric and flowers, a priest reciting; a second suitor turned away to uphold dharma.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It emphasizes guarding kula-dharma by avoiding unions that violate prior commitment or established marital status.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is praised in this verse; it is a dharma-focused rule within Dharmāraṇya teachings.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It references kautuka-maṅgala—auspicious engagement/betrothal rites—indicating that once performed, the girl is not to be taken by another.