Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 106

Devanagari script

कामिभिः कामिनीलोकैः प्रियोक्तैरभिवां छिता । असत्स्त्रीभिर्विशेषेण संप्राप्ता रजनी ततः

Transliteration

kāmibhiḥ kāminīlokaiḥ priyoktairabhivāṃ chitā | asatstrībhirviśeṣeṇa saṃprāptā rajanī tataḥ

Translation

Alors vint la nuit, désirée par les hommes en proie à la passion et par la compagnie des femmes légères, recherchée pour ses paroles douces et enjôleuses, surtout par les femmes de conduite impure.

Word by Word

• कामिभिः: by/with lustful men
• कामिभिः: Karana/Agent-like (Instrument/agentive accompaniment/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन

• कामिनीलोकैः: by groups of amorous women
• कामिनीलोकैः: Karana/Agent-like (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāminī (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कामिनीनां लोकैः = by groups of amorous women)

• प्रियोक्तैः: with pleasing words
• प्रियोक्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त; √vac)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे); तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (प्रियाणि उक्तानि)

• अभिवाञ्छिता: desired
• अभिवाञ्छिता: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi+√vāñch (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘रजनी’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (desired/longed for)

• असत्स्त्रीभिः: by immoral women
• असत्स्त्रीभिः: Karana/Agent-like (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asat (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (असत्याः/दुष्टाः स्त्रियः)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial instrumental: “especially”)

• संप्राप्ता: arrived
• संप्राप्ता: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+√prāp (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘रजनी’ इत्यस्य विधेय (has arrived)

• रजनी: night
• रजनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ततः: thereupon
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/तस्मात्-अर्थक (then/thereupon)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa style narration within Māhātmya)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Night descends over the pilgrimage camp; in the distance, shadowy figures seek pleasure and whispering trysts, contrasted with the quiet, lamp-lit austerity of sages.

Characters & Entities

• rajanī (night)
• kāmī (lustful person)
• asatstrī (unvirtuous woman)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Night can become a cover for desire and moral lapse; the verse cautions the traveller and seeker to maintain self-control.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named in this verse; it functions as ethical narration within the broader Tīrthamāhātmya setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct rite is prescribed here; it serves as a dharmic warning about the temptations associated with night.