Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 104
नास्ति मातृसमं त्राणं नास्ति मातृसमा प्रपा । कुक्षिसंधारणाद्धात्री जननाज्जननी तथा
nāsti mātṛsamaṃ trāṇaṃ nāsti mātṛsamā prapā | kukṣisaṃdhāraṇāddhātrī jananājjananī tathā
There is no protection equal to a mother; there is no resting-shelter like a mother. Because she bears one in her womb she is called Dhātrī (the Sustainer), and because she gives birth she is called Jananī (the Mother).
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), contextually addressing the sages (deduced)
Scene: A mother depicted as ‘Dhātrī’: one hand on her womb (symbolic), another offering water like a prapā to travelers; the son receives protection under her shawl-like ‘shade’.
FAQs
The mother is the highest protection and comfort, and her roles of sustaining and birthing are sacredly acknowledged.
No particular tīrtha is named; the imagery of prapā is metaphorical.
None; it offers devotional-ethical instruction through praise and definition of motherhood.