Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

देवी चंद्रार्चिता यत्र यशोदा नंदनंदिनी । कौमारिका शक्तिहस्ता खङ्गखेटकधारिणी

Transliteration

devī caṃdrārcitā yatra yaśodā naṃdanaṃdinī | kaumārikā śaktihastā khaṅgakheṭakadhāriṇī

Translation

There, at that sacred place, is the Goddess worshipped by the Moon—Yaśodā, the beloved daughter of Nanda; the Virgin Goddess (Kaumārī), holding a spear in her hand, bearing sword and shield.

Word by Word

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चंद्रार्चिता: worshipped by the Moon
• चंद्रार्चिता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चंद्र + अर्चित (कृदन्त; अर्च् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; देवी-विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (चंद्रेण अर्चिता)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (where)

• यशोदा: Yaśodā
• यशोदा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशोदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• नंदनंदिनी: Nanda's daughter
• नंदनंदिनी: Apposition (Same referent/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नंद + नंदिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नंदस्य नंदिनी = daughter of Nanda)

• कौमारिका: the maiden (goddess)
• कौमारिका: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौमारिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; देवी-विशेषणम् (maiden/virginal)

• शक्तिहस्ता: having a spear in her hand
• शक्तिहस्ता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्ति + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (शक्तिः हस्ते यस्याः सा)

• खङ्गखेटकधारिणी: bearing sword and shield
• खङ्गखेटकधारिणी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खङ्ग + खेटक + धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; देवी-विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (खङ्गं खेटकं च धारयति इति)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Dvārakā Māhātmya narrative style within Skanda Purāṇa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Candrabhāgā-associated Devī shrine (Kaumārī/Yaśodā)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: viprendraḥ / brāhmaṇas

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant Virgin Goddess (Kaumārī) stands near the sacred waters, moonlight crowning her; she holds a spear, sword, and shield, embodying both maternal protection and warrior power.

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Candra
• Yaśodā
• Nanda
• Kaumārī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred places are also sanctified by the living presence and worship of the Goddess, whose protection and power are celebrated through iconography.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse continues the praise of the tīrtha-context around Candrabhāgā, highlighting a Devī-sthāna associated with that locale.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct injunction is given here; the verse identifies the deity and her revered status (candrārcitā).