Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

लोकोक्त्या श्रूयते चैतच्चन्दनं किल शीतलम् । पुत्रगात्रपरिष्वङ्गश्चन्दनादपि शीतलः

Transliteration

lokoktyā śrūyate caitaccandanaṃ kila śītalam | putragātrapariṣvaṅgaścandanādapi śītalaḥ

Translation

Le proverbe dit que le santal est frais au toucher ; mais l’étreinte du corps d’un fils est plus fraîche encore que le santal.

Word by Word

• लोकोक्त्या: by common saying, by popular report
• लोकोक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (instr. sg.)

• श्रूयते: is heard, is said
• श्रूयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्, कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive: is heard)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (nom. sg.); सर्वनाम

• चन्दनम्: sandalwood
• चन्दनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (nom. sg.)

• किल: indeed, they say
• किल: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/श्रुत्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/it is said)

• शीतलम्: cool
• शीतलम्: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (nom. sg. neut.)

• पुत्रगात्रपरिष्वङ्गः: the embrace of a son's body
• पुत्रगात्रपरिष्वङ्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + गात्र + परिष्वङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (nom. sg.)

• चन्दनात्: than sandalwood, from sandalwood
• चन्दनात्: Apadana (Comparison source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/तुलना), एकवचन (abl. sg.)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• शीतलः: cooler/cool
• शीतलः: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (nom. sg. masc.)

Speaker

Narrator (reporting the mother’s speech)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā)

Type: river

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close, tender composition: mother recalling the coolness of sandalwood but declaring the son’s embrace cooler; sandal paste bowl nearby, yet untouched; her hands clasped, eyes moist.

Characters & Entities

• candana (sandalwood)
• mother (context)
• son (context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse elevates the tenderness of family duty and affection, implying that harming the virtuous harms the very source of solace for others.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified in this poetic line; the broader Revā Khaṇḍa sacred setting remains implicit.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.