Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

सीमन्तोथाष्टमे मासि गर्भरूपसमृद्धिकृत् । सुखप्रसव सिद्ध्यै च तेनाकारि क्रियाविदा

Transliteration

sīmantothāṣṭame māsi garbharūpasamṛddhikṛt | sukhaprasava siddhyai ca tenākāri kriyāvidā

Translation

Then, in the eighth month, the rite called Sīmanta was performed by those skilled in sacred observances, so that the form of the fetus might flourish and an easy, successful delivery be ensured.

Word by Word

• सीमन्तः: the sīmantonnayana rite
• सीमन्तः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीमन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘सीमन्त’ इति संस्कारविशेषः

• उथ: and then
• उथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उथ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• अष्टमे: in the eighth
• अष्टमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘मासि’ इति विशेषणम्

• मासि: month
• मासि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• गर्भरूपसमृद्धिकृत्: causing the fetus’s form to prosper
• गर्भरूपसमृद्धिकृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + समृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृ धातु, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘समृद्धिं करोति’ इति कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (कृदन्त) विशेषणम्; समासः—गर्भरूपस्य समृद्धिः यस्य/यत् करोति

• सुखप्रसव: easy delivery
• सुखप्रसव: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः; (समासाङ्ग) ‘सुखः प्रसवः’

• सिद्ध्यै: for the accomplishment
• सिद्ध्यै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तेन: by that (rite)
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अकारि: was performed
• अकारि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/अद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive): ‘was performed’

• क्रियाविदा: by one skilled in rites
• क्रियाविदा: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रियाविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘क्रियाः वेत्ति’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रातिपदिक-प्रयोगः

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene household rite in Kāśī: the pregnant mother seated, elders and priests performing Sīmanta with auspicious items, lamps, flowers, and protective mantras; Gaṅgā’s sanctity implied in the background.

Characters & Entities

• Sīmanta (saṃskāra)
• garbha (fetus)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld through timely saṃskāras performed with right intent—seeking protection, wellbeing, and sanctity for new life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse sits within the Kāśī-khaṇḍa narrative frame; this particular line focuses on saṃskāra rather than naming a specific tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The Sīmanta rite is prescribed in the eighth month to promote the fetus’ wellbeing and support an easy delivery.