Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

अमृतार्थे समारम्भो महिलार्थे विनश्यति । संकेतं प्रथमं कृत्वा विष्णुना चुंबिता पुनः

Transliteration

amṛtārthe samārambho mahilārthe vinaśyati | saṃketaṃ prathamaṃ kṛtvā viṣṇunā cuṃbitā punaḥ

Translation

«L’entreprise commencée pour l’ambroisie se perd lorsqu’elle se détourne vers une femme.» Après avoir d’abord établi l’accord, elle fut de nouveau embrassée par Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• अमृतार्थे: for the sake of nectar
• अमृतार्थे: Adhikaraṇa (Topic/Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अमृतस्य अर्थः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• समारम्भः: undertaking/effort
• समारम्भः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-आ-रम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महिलार्थे: for the sake of a woman
• महिलार्थे: Adhikaraṇa (Topic/Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिला + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महिलायाः अर्थः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• विनश्यति: perishes/is ruined
• विनश्यति: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• संकेतं: agreement/sign
• संकेतं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रथमं: first
• प्रथमं: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (संकेतं)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), धातु: कृ

• विष्णुना: by Vishnu
• विष्णुना: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• चुंबिता: was kissed
• चुंबिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चुम्ब् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (लक्ष्मीः) इति कर्तृपदं गम्यते

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Narrator (with a quoted maxim attributed to Viṣṇu by context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra (within Prabhāsa)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Viṣṇu speaks a calm admonition; the factions quiet. A formal agreement is set, and then Śrī, having been approached rightly, unites with Viṣṇu—symbolized by a respectful kiss—signaling restoration of cosmic order.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A sacred goal collapses when diverted by uncontrolled desire; dharma begins with clear agreements and discipline.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Vastrāpathakṣetra in Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa, where the Māhātmya ties ethical teaching to the sanctity of place.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it highlights niyama (discipline) and saṃketa (agreed order) as dhārmic principles.