Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

शुश्रूषानिरतो भूत्वा येन प्राप्नोमि भामिनीम्

Transliteration

śuśrūṣānirato bhūtvā yena prāpnomi bhāminīm

Translation

近侍して奉仕に専心すれば、その手立てによって、あの情熱の女を得られるだろう。

Word by Word

• śuśrūṣānirataḥ: devoted to service
• śuśrūṣānirataḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuśrūṣā + nirata (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: “śuśrūṣāyām nirataḥ” (engaged in service); nirata = क्त (from ni-ram) used adjectivally

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhū (धातु) → bhūtvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund) = “having become”

• yena: by which (means)
• yena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (सर्वनाम), तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधन/उपायवाचक = “by which/through which means”

• prāpnomi: I obtain/reach
• prāpnomi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-āp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: प्राप् (to obtain/reach)

• bhāminīm: the passionate/beautiful woman
• bhāminīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāminī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

An unnamed narrator (continuing the intent) within the Tīrthamāhātmya narrative

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A novice-like attendant stands respectfully near a seated sage, offering water and fanning gently; the attendant’s gaze hints at hidden longing.

Characters & Entities

• Bhāminī (epithet for the woman)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Service becomes spiritually fruitful only when it is sincere; using it as a tool for desire is a dharmic failing.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None directly; the verse continues a character-driven episode within a sacred-region narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal ritual; it references śuśrūṣā (attentive service), a valued discipline when practiced with purity.