Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

जन्मदाया जगन्मातुः क्रमेण जठरांतरम् । अरंजयच्छविं देव्या गुहमातुर्विभावरी

Transliteration

janmadāyā jaganmātuḥ krameṇa jaṭharāṃtaram | araṃjayacchaviṃ devyā guhamāturvibhāvarī

Translation

As the giver of birth to the Mother of the world, Vibhāvarī gradually entered the womb, and she enhanced the splendour of that Goddess—the future mother of Guha.

Word by Word

• जन्मदाया: the giver of birth (night)
• जन्मदाया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्म (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (धातु) → दाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—जन्म ददाति इति जन्मदायाः (उपपद-तत्पुरुष) — ‘(she who) gives birth’

• जगन्मातुः: of the Mother of the world
• जगन्मातुः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—जगतः माता (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• क्रमेण: gradually, in order
• क्रमेण: Karana (Means/manner/करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन — adverbial instrumental ‘gradually/in due course’

• जठरान्तरम्: the inside of the womb
• जठरान्तरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जठर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—जठरस्य अन्तरम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) — ‘the interior of the womb’

• अरंजयत्: brightened, gladdened
• अरंजयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — ‘made delightful/brightened’

• छविम्: splendour, radiance
• छविम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — object of अरंजयत्

• देव्याः: of the देवी
• देव्याः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — ‘of the goddess’

• गुहमातुः: of Guha’s mother
• गुहमातुः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक) + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—गुहस्य माता (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• विभावरी: the night
• विभावरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभावरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — apposition to जन्मदाया (night)

Speaker

Sūta narrating (deduced).

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Vibhāvarī (Night) becomes a luminous, protective presence within Menā’s womb, gradually intensifying the goddess-to-be’s radiance—an image of darkness transmuted into splendor.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhāvarī (Rātri/Niśā)
• Guha (Skanda/Kārttikeya)
• Jaganmātā (epithet)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine births are portrayed as sanctified processes where cosmic powers nurture auspiciousness and radiance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse centers on mythic lineage connected to Himagiri’s household.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it narrates a gradual, divinely guided conception.