Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

अश्विभ्यां द्वे तथा कन्ये सुवेषा भूषणा शुभा । एका कन्या तथा वायोर्दत्ता एताः प्रकीर्तिताः

Transliteration

aśvibhyāṃ dve tathā kanye suveṣā bhūṣaṇā śubhā | ekā kanyā tathā vāyordattā etāḥ prakīrtitāḥ

Translation

Two maidens—fairly robed and auspiciously adorned—were given to the Aśvin twins; and one maiden was likewise given to Vāyu. Thus are these maidens renowned in the tradition.

Word by Word

• अश्विभ्याम्: to the Aśvins (twin gods)
• अश्विभ्याम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी/तृतीया-विभक्ति (Dative/Ablative/Instrumental), द्विवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान)

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थ (also/likewise)

• कन्ये: two daughters
• कन्ये: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• सुवेषा: Suveṣā
• सुवेषा: Apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवेषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• भूषणा: Bhūṣaṇā
• भूषणा: Apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• शुभा: Śubhā
• शुभा: Apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• एका: one
• एका: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• कन्या: daughter
• कन्या: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ

• वायोः: of/for Vāyu
• वायोः: Sampradana/Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दत्ता: given
• दत्ता: Karma (Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• एताः: these (women)
• एताः: Karta (of passive/statement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रकीर्तिताः: have been proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तिताः: Kriya (Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic voice within Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya; traditionally Sūta relating the account)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (sectional setting)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Implied tīrtha-inquirer (not explicit in this verse)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two radiant maidens, richly dressed, are ceremonially offered to the Aśvin twins; a third maiden is offered to Vāyu, suggested by flowing scarves and wind motifs; priests witness the auspicious act.

Characters & Entities

• Aśvins
• Vāyu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic dharma emphasizes orderly, sanctified relationships and offerings, portraying divine allotments as part of cosmic harmony.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader passage belongs to Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya, glorifying Prabhāsa as a supremely sacred pilgrimage region.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is prescribed here; the verse functions as narrative tradition (itihāsa-style) within the Māhātmya.