Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

पुन्नागवनविभ्रांतपुंस्कोकिलविराविणि । वसन्तसमये रम्ये विजहार स्त्रिया सह

Transliteration

punnāgavanavibhrāṃtapuṃskokilavirāviṇi | vasantasamaye ramye vijahāra striyā saha

Translation

En la douce saison du printemps, dans un bois de punnāga retentissant des cris des coucous mâles voletant çà et là, le roi s’y divertit en compagnie de son épouse.

Word by Word

• पुन्नागवनविभ्रान्तपुंस्कोकिलविराविणि: in (a place) resounding with male cuckoos roaming in the punnāga-grove
• पुन्नागवनविभ्रान्तपुंस्कोकिलविराविणि: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुन्नाग-वन-विभ्रान्त-पुंस्-कोकिल-विराविन् (प्रातिपदिक; पुन्नाग=Indian beech, वन=grove, विभ्रान्त=roaming, पुंस्=male, कोकिल=cuckoo, विराविन्=crying)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (locative describing place)

• वसन्तसमये: in the spring season
• वसन्तसमये: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन्त-समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्

• रम्ये: pleasant, delightful
• रम्ये: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying समये)

• विजहार: he sported/enjoyed
• विजहार: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• स्त्रिया: with (his) wife/woman
• स्त्रिया: Sahakāraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचनम्; सह-योगे (with)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; उपसर्गसदृशं सहार्थकं (particle meaning 'with')

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa addressing sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In spring, a punnāga grove alive with male cuckoos’ calls; the king enjoys sport with his queen amid fragrant blossoms and fluttering birds.

Characters & Entities

• king (nṛpa)
• queen/consort

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It highlights the allure of kāma and comfort, which in Purāṇic narrative often precede a moment requiring dharmic courage and compassion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is stated in this verse; it is a narrative setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; this verse is purely descriptive.