Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 94

Devanagari script

नितंबिन्यः सुकेशाश्च शुभ्राः स्वायतलोचनाः । सुगंडा ललिताश्चैव सुकक्षाः सुपयोधराः

Transliteration

nitaṃbinyaḥ sukeśāśca śubhrāḥ svāyatalocanāḥ | sugaṃḍā lalitāścaiva sukakṣāḥ supayodharāḥ

Translation

Aux hanches gracieuses et à la chevelure soyeuse; rayonnantes, aux yeux larges; aux joues charmantes et à la grâce délicate—à la taille bien formée et à la poitrine opulente.

Word by Word

• नितम्बिन्यः: women with shapely hips
• नितम्बिन्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नितम्बिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• सु-केशाः: having beautiful hair
• सु-केशाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शुभ्राः: bright/fair
• शुभ्राः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्वायत-लोचनाः: with long eyes
• स्वायत-लोचनाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + आयत (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सु-गण्डाः: with beautiful cheeks
• सु-गण्डाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + गण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ललिताः: graceful
• ललिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• सु-कक्षाः: with beautiful armpits/sides
• सु-कक्षाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + कक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सु-पयोधराः: with full breasts
• सु-पयोधराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + पयोधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dāmodara-dhāma (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close-up tableau of divine women attendants: graceful hips, lustrous hair, radiant complexion, large lotus-like eyes, charming cheeks, elegant waists, and full bosoms—posed in dance and service gestures before the unseen central deity.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Prosperity, refinement, and beauty are portrayed as outward signs of accumulated merit (puṇya) in a sanctified landscape.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The description continues the māhātmya of Vastrāpatha-kṣetra in Prabhāsa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is descriptive praise reinforcing the auspiciousness of the sacred region.