Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 105
अंगानां वर्धनादंबा वीरसूत्वे च वीरसूः । शिशोः शुश्रूषणाच्छ्वश्रूर्माता स्यान्माननात्तथा
aṃgānāṃ vardhanādaṃbā vīrasūtve ca vīrasūḥ | śiśoḥ śuśrūṣaṇācchvaśrūrmātā syānmānanāttathā
On la nomme Ambā parce qu’elle nourrit et fait croître les membres de l’enfant; et on la nomme Vīrasū parce qu’elle enfante les vaillants. En servant et en veillant sur le petit, même la belle-mère devient « mère »; de même, en honorant une femme, elle devient mère par le rang et la dignité.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), contextually addressing the sages (deduced)
Scene: A domestic, tender scene: a mother (Ambā) nursing and strengthening a child; a respectful household where a daughter-in-law serves a child and honors the elder woman, transforming relationships into ‘motherhood’.
FAQs
Motherhood is defined by nurturing, courageous upbringing, service, and honor—these create sacred familial bonds.
No tīrtha is referenced; the verse focuses on household dharma and relational ethics.
No formal ritual; it prescribes respectful conduct—service (śuśrūṣā) and honoring (māna) within the family.