Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

नंदिग्रामे पुरा काचिन्महानंदेति विश्रुता । बभूव वारवनिता शृंगारललिताकृतिः

Transliteration

naṃdigrāme purā kācinmahānaṃdeti viśrutā | babhūva vāravanitā śṛṃgāralalitākṛtiḥ

Translation

Autrefois, à Nandigrāma, vivait une courtisane renommée, appelée Mahānandā, gracieuse de forme et experte en parure et en séduction.

Word by Word

• नन्दिग्रामे: in Nandigrāma
• नन्दिग्रामे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; नाम-समास (नन्देः ग्रामः)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly)

• काचित्: a certain (woman)
• काचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अनिश्चित (indefinite)

• महानन्दा: Mahānandā
• महानन्दा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper name)

• इति: thus (named)
• इति: Avyaya (Quotative/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/नामनिर्देशार्थक अव्यय (quotative)

• विश्रुता: well-known
• विश्रुता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• बभूव: there was / became
• बभूव: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वारवनिता: a courtesan
• वारवनिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार (प्रातिपदिक) + वनिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वारस्य/वार-सम्बन्धिनी वनिता)

• शृङ्गारललिताकृतिः: having a charming, amorous appearance
• शृङ्गारललिताकृतिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शृङ्गार (प्रातिपदिक) + ललित (प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (ललिता आकृतिः शृङ्गारे)

Speaker

Parāśara (continuing the narrative)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Nandigrāma

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: The King (Rājā)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In Nandigrāma’s streets or a richly decorated house, Mahānandā the courtesan appears—elegant posture, elaborate hair, fine garments, ornaments, attendants, mirrors and perfumes—an atmosphere of refined allure.

Characters & Entities

• Nandigrāma
• Mahānandā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic dharma-teachings often begin with worldly entanglement to later reveal the possibility of inner change through merit and guidance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Nandigrāma is named as the setting; no tīrtha-mahātmya is explicitly stated in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it introduces a character and setting for the forthcoming account.