Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

सोनुकूलासु पत्नीषु लब्ध्वा पुत्रान्महौजसः । चिरेण प्रार्थितां लेभे कन्यामेकां वराननाम्

Transliteration

sonukūlāsu patnīṣu labdhvā putrānmahaujasaḥ | cireṇa prārthitāṃ lebhe kanyāmekāṃ varānanām

Translation

Bien qu’il eût obtenu de ses épouses au cœur bienveillant des fils d’une grande vigueur, après longtemps il reçut—tant implorée—une unique fille au visage gracieux.

Word by Word

• सोनुकूलासु: in (his) Sonukūlā (named)
• सोनुकूलासु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सोनुकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• पत्नीषु: among wives
• पत्नीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (absolutive/gerund), ‘having obtained’

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• महौजसः: of the mighty/very powerful (one)
• महौजसः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महौजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्; ‘महद्+ओजस्’ कर्मधारयः; सम्बन्ध (of)

• चिरेण: after a long time
• चिरेण: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्; कालवाचक-प्रयोगः (used adverbially: ‘after a long time’)

• प्रार्थिताम्: (one) who had been requested/sought
• प्रार्थिताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रार्थित (प्र+अर्थ्/प्रार्थ् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle)

• लेभे: obtained
• लेभे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• कन्याम्: a maiden/daughter
• कन्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• एकाम्: one
• एकाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; संख्याविशेषणम्

• वराननाम्: having a beautiful face
• वराननाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरानना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; ‘वर+आनना’ कर्मधारयः

Speaker

Unknown (narrative voice within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa; likely the main narrator)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A royal household scene: the king receiving news of a long-prayed daughter’s birth; queens and attendants in a palace chamber; auspicious lamps, conch, and blessing gestures.

Characters & Entities

• Citravarman (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Children are portrayed as divine gifts; persistent prayer and dharmic life culminate in blessings in due time.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it advances the family narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; the verse highlights prārthanā (earnest prayer) and the resulting blessing.