Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

देवि कोऽपि युवा श्रीमांस्त्रैलोक्येष्वमितप्रभः । कामातिथिस्तव द्वारि वर्तते दिश तत्परम्

Transliteration

devi ko'pi yuvā śrīmāṃstrailokyeṣvamitaprabhaḥ | kāmātithistava dvāri vartate diśa tatparam

Translation

女神よ、三界に比類なき光を放つ、麗しき若者が「欲の客」として御門前に立っております。いかに取り計らうべきか、ご命令ください。

Word by Word

• देवि: O goddess/lady
• देवि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• कः: who/someone
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: some/indeed
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनिश्चितार्थक/समुच्चयार्थक निपात (some/also)

• युवा: a young man
• युवा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रीमान्: splendid/fortunate
• श्रीमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying yuvā)

• त्रैलोक्येषु: in the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्येषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + लोक (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रयाणां लोकानां समाहारः)

• अमितप्रभः: of immeasurable radiance
• अमितप्रभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (अमिता प्रभा यस्य/अमिता-प्रभा)

• कामातिथिः: Kāmātithi (name)
• कामातिथिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + अतिथि (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कामस्य अतिथिः/नामधेय)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• द्वारि: at the door
• द्वारि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वर्तते: is present/stands
• वर्तते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दिश: give/command
• दिश: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्परम्: what is appropriate/that (order)
• तत्परम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् + पर (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्मिन् परम् = तत्परम्); (आज्ञा/कर्मरूपेण)

Speaker

niśācarī (the maidservant/night-roaming attendant)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The maidservant addresses Maurvī: a splendid young man of immeasurable radiance stands at the door as a ‘guest of desire’, awaiting command; the contrast of awe and erotic implication is central.

Characters & Entities

• Devi (lady addressed)
• trailokya
• kāmātithi

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It contrasts dharmic hospitality with desire’s intrusion—how kāma can masquerade as rightful approach.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse is set in a palace narrative context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual; it alludes to receiving a guest, which is part of general dharma.