Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 48
Devanagari script
वेश्यो वाच । वयं तु स्वैरचारिण्यो वेश्यास्तु न पतिव्रताः । अस्मत्कुलोचितो धर्मो व्यभिचारो न संशयः
Transliteration
veśyo vāca | vayaṃ tu svairacāriṇyo veśyāstu na pativratāḥ | asmatkulocito dharmo vyabhicāro na saṃśayaḥ
Translation
遊女は言った。「わたしたちは自由な振る舞いの女。遊女は夫に貞節を尽くす妻（パティヴラター）ではない。わたしたちの身分に相応しいダルマは、婚外の交わりである、疑いはない。」
Word by Word
वेश्यःthe courtesan
वेश्यः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootवेश्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
वाचsaid
वाच:
Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; (पाठभेदः: उवाच)
वयम्we
वयम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formप्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (contrastive particle)
स्वैरचारिण्यःfree-living/acting at will
स्वैरचारिण्यः:
Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootस्वैर-चारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; स्वैर + चारिणी)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय; विशेषण (वयम्/वेश्याः)
वेश्याःcourtesans
वेश्याः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootवेश्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन
तुindeed
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; पुनरुक्त-तु (emphasis/contrast)
नnot
न:
Sambandha (Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)
पतिव्रताःdevoted to (one) husband
पतिव्रताः:
Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootपति-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; पति + व्रत)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष; विशेषण
अस्मत्कुलोचितःproper to our family/lineage
अस्मत्कुलोचितः:
Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootअस्मत्-कुल-उचित (प्रातिपदिक; अस्मत् + कुल + उचित)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (धर्मः)
धर्मःduty/practice
धर्मः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
व्यभिचारःinfidelity/sexual transgression
व्यभिचारः:
Pradhāna (Predicate nominal)
TypeNoun
Rootव्यभिचार (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)
नnot
न:
Sambandha (Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय
संशयःdoubt
संशयः:
Pradhāna (Predicate nominal)
TypeNoun
Rootसंशय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; निषेधवाक्ये 'न संशयः' = 'no doubt'
Speaker
Veśyā/Gaṇikā (courtesan)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: The courtesan speaks plainly, posture confident yet tinged with resignation; the merchant listens, the jewel between them symbolizing the moral bargain.
Characters & Entities
V
veśyā (courtesan)D
dharma (customary duty)FAQs
Purāṇic narratives often contrast social role-based conduct with higher dharma, preparing a lesson on discernment, restraint, and spiritual transformation.
No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.
None; this is a declaration of social identity and customary conduct.