Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

तस्य कन्या समुत्पन्ना कदाचिल्लक्षणाच्च्युता । अतिदीर्घा प्रमाणेन जनहास्यविवर्द्धिनी

Transliteration

tasya kanyā samutpannā kadācillakṣaṇāccyutā | atidīrghā pramāṇena janahāsyavivarddhinī

Translation

To him a daughter was born, but at some point she fell short of auspicious marks; exceedingly tall in stature, she became a cause for people’s ridicule.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (of him)

• कन्या: a daughter
• कन्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• समुत्पन्ना: was born
• समुत्पन्ना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उत् + पद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (born/arisen)

• कदाचित्: once/sometime
• कदाचित्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (at some time)

• लक्षणात्: from proper marks/beauty
• लक्षणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे (from/away from)

• च्युता: deprived/fallen away
• च्युता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: च्यु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (fallen/devoid)

• अति-दीर्घा: excessively tall/long
• अति-दीर्घा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रमाणेन: in measure; by proportion
• प्रमाणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु (by measure/in proportion)

• जन-हास्य-विवर्द्धिनी: increasing people’s ridicule
• जन-हास्य-विवर्द्धिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक) + हास्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्द्धिनी (वृध् धातोः णिनि-प्रत्यय, स्त्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त-स्वभाववाचक (causing increase of people's laughter)

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A tall young girl stands slightly apart as townspeople whisper and laugh; her father looks distressed yet composed; the scene is empathetic, focusing on her quiet sorrow rather than mockery.

Characters & Entities

• Vīraśarman’s daughter

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic stories portray worldly imperfection and shame as catalysts that turn one toward sacred refuge and divine remedy.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of the lead-up to the Dīrghikā-saras Māhātmya within Śrīhāṭakeśvara-kṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it establishes the narrative condition that will be resolved through tīrtha-related merit.