Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 84

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणी विधवा काचित्पुरा ह्यासीच्च चंचला । श्वपचाभिरता सा च कामुकी कामहेतुतः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇī vidhavā kācitpurā hyāsīcca caṃcalā | śvapacābhiratā sā ca kāmukī kāmahetutaḥ

Translation

昔、ある婆羅門の女がいた。寡婦でありながら行いは移ろいやすかった。欲情に駆られて、彼女はシュヴァパチャ（賤民、犬肉を煮る者）に心を寄せ、ただ欲のために激しく惑わされた。

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇī: a Brahmin woman
• brāhmaṇī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vidhavā: widowed
• vidhavā: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidhavā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (brāhmaṇī)

• kācit: a certain (woman)
• kācit: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla (Temporal adjunct/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: formerly)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निश्चय/हेतुबोधक (indeed/for)

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• caṃcalā: restless/fickle
• caṃcalā: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caṃcalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (brāhmaṇī)

• śvapacābhiratā: attached to an outcaste (śvapaca)
• śvapacābhiratā: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śvapaca-abhiratā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (śvapace abhiratā = attached to a dog-cooker/outcaste)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थक-सर्वनाम

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kāmukī: lustful/amorous
• kāmukī: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāmukī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (sā)

• kāmahetutaḥ: due to desire
• kāmahetutaḥ: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kāma-hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): हेतौ ‘कामा-हेतोः’ (because of desire)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa/Sūta (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Opening of a moral tale: a widow in simple garments stands at a crossroads, her face conflicted; in the shadows an outcaste man beckons; the background hints at a distant Śiva shrine and a lamp that will later symbolize redemption.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇī (widow)
• Śvapaca

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Unchecked desire (kāma) destabilizes dharma and leads to degrading attachments.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra region is the broader setting, where Śivarātri’s purifying power will be demonstrated.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly here; this verse sets up the exemplary story that will highlight Śivarātri’s merit.