Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

कम्बुग्रीवा चारुमध्या ताम्रपादाङ्गुलीनखा । निम्ननाभिः सुजघना रम्भोरू सुदती शुभा

Transliteration

kambugrīvā cārumadhyā tāmrapādāṅgulīnakhā | nimnanābhiḥ sujaghanā rambhorū sudatī śubhā

Translation

Lehernya laksana sangkha (kerang suci), pinggangnya ramping menawan; kaki, jari-jari, dan kukunya bersemu merah tembaga. Dengan pusar yang dalam, pinggul yang elok, paha bak Rambhā, serta gigi yang indah, ia tampak suci-berkah dan memesona.

Word by Word

• कम्बुग्रीवा: conch-necked
• कम्बुग्रीवा: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कम्बु-ग्रीवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—कम्बुवत् ग्रीवा यस्याः (having a conch-like neck)

• चारुमध्या: slender-waisted
• चारुमध्या: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु-मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—चारुः मध्यः यस्याः (with a lovely/slender waist)

• ताम्रपादाङ्गुलीनखा: having reddish toenails
• ताम्रपादाङ्गुलीनखा: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र-पाद-अङ्गुली-नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—ताम्राः पादाङ्गुलीनखाः यस्याः (whose toenails are copper-reddish)

• निम्ननाभिः: deep-naveled
• निम्ननाभिः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निम्न-नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—निम्ना नाभिः यस्याः (with a deep navel)

• सुजघना: beautiful-hipped
• सुजघना: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-जघन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सुन्दरं जघनं यस्याः (with beautiful hips)

• रम्भोरू: having Rambhā-like thighs
• रम्भोरू: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्भा-ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—रम्भायाः इव ऊरू यस्याः (with thighs like Rambhā’s)

• सुदती: fine-toothed
• सुदती: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-दत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सुन्दराः दन्ताः यस्याः (with fine teeth)

• शुभा: auspicious/beautiful
• शुभा: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator in Revā Khaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Full-figure portrayal emphasizing conch-like neck, slender waist, copper-tinged feet and nails, deep navel, graceful hips and thighs; the overall aura is ‘śubhā’—auspicious beauty.

Characters & Entities

• Rambhā (Apsaras)
• Kāmapramodinī (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The text marks the heroine’s auspiciousness and exceptional qualities, preparing the narrative for consequential dharmic events that her presence will catalyze.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it remains within the Revā Khaṇḍa’s broader sacred setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse.