Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 48

Devanagari script

विप्रा ऊचुः । तन्वी श्यामा विशालाक्षी स्निग्धाङ्गी रूपसंयुता । हंसलीलागतिगमा त्वं च सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरी

Transliteration

viprā ūcuḥ | tanvī śyāmā viśālākṣī snigdhāṅgī rūpasaṃyutā | haṃsalīlāgatigamā tvaṃ ca sarvāṅgasundarī

Translation

ವಿಪ್ರರು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ನೀನು ತನ್ವೀ, ಶ್ಯಾಮವರ್ಣೆ, ವಿಶಾಲಾಕ್ಷಿ, ಸ್ನಿಗ್ಧಾಂಗೀ ಹಾಗೂ ರೂಪಸಂಪನ್ನೆ; ನಿನ್ನ ನಡೆ ಹಂಸದ ಲೀಲಾಗತಿಯಂತೆ, ನೀನು ಸರ್ವಾಂಗಸುಂದರಿ।

Word by Word

• विप्राः: Brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तन्वी: slender
• तन्वी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तन्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण त्वम्-शब्दस्य

• श्यामा: dark-complexioned
• श्यामा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्यामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• विशालाक्षी: large-eyed
• विशालाक्षी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः (one who has large eyes)

• स्निग्धाङ्गी: smooth-limbed
• स्निग्धाङ्गी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः (one whose limbs are smooth/lustrous)

• रूपसंयुता: endowed with beauty
• रूपसंयुता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप + संयुत (कृदन्त; युज् धातोः क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः (endowed with beauty/form)

• हंसलीलागतिगमा: having a swan-like playful gait
• हंसलीलागतिगमा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हंस + लीला + गति + गम (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः (one whose gait is like the playful movement of a swan)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरी: beautiful in every limb
• सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + अङ्ग + सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः (one who is beautiful in all limbs)

Speaker

Vipras (disguised Devas, per later revelation)

Characters & Entities

• Vipras (Brahmin sages)
• Anasūyā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In Purāṇic praise-poetry, inner purity and disciplined living are often mirrored by descriptions of radiance, grace, and auspicious beauty.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tirtha is named; the verse is a eulogy within the Revā Khaṇḍa narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is stuti (praise) describing qualities and appearance.