Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 72

Devanagari script

महता भूषणेनैव रूपं कृत्वा मनोरमम् । कुंकुमैः कज्जलैर्वस्त्रैर्भूषणैश्चैव भूषिता

Transliteration

mahatā bhūṣaṇenaiva rūpaṃ kṛtvā manoramam | kuṃkumaiḥ kajjalairvastrairbhūṣaṇaiścaiva bhūṣitā

Translation

Assuming a charming form through splendid ornamentation, she adorned herself with vermilion, collyrium, fine garments, and ornaments.

Word by Word

• महता: with great
• महता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भे साधारणम्), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying भूषणेन)

• भूषणेन: with ornamentation/adornment
• भूषणेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• रूपम्: form/appearance
• रूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• मनोरमम्: charming
• मनोरमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोरम (प्रातिपदिक: मनस् + रम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying रूपम्)

• कुंकुमैः: with saffron/vermillion
• कुंकुमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कज्जलैः: with collyrium
• कज्जलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कज्जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वस्त्रैः: with garments
• वस्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भूषणैः: with ornaments
• भूषणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• भूषिता: was adorned
• भूषिता: Kriya (State/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भूष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अलङ्कृता’ इत्यर्थे (finite sense)

Speaker

Narrator

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Varddhanī transforms into a captivating form, applying kumkuma and kajjala, donning fine garments and ornaments—an intimate dressing-chamber scene with attendants and mirrors.

Characters & Entities

• Varddhanī (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Outer form is shown as a tool within narrative causality; Purāṇas caution that beauty and display can be powerful forces shaping outcomes.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None in this verse; it is descriptive preparation within the Dharmāraṇya storyline.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a poetic description of adornment.