Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

क्वचित्प्रियेण भुक्तं यद्रोचते तु मनीषिणाम् । दंपत्योः प्रीतियोगेन संगमः प्रीतिवर्द्धनः

Transliteration

kvacitpriyeṇa bhuktaṃ yadrocate tu manīṣiṇām | daṃpatyoḥ prītiyogena saṃgamaḥ prītivarddhanaḥ

Translation

ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಪ್ರಿಯನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿದುದೂ ಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳಿಗೆ ರುಚಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ದಂಪತಿಗಳ ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಯೋಗದಿಂದ ಉಂಟಾಗುವ ಸಂಗಮವು ಪ್ರೀತಿಯನ್ನು ವೃದ್ಧಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

Word by Word

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘sometimes’)

• प्रियेण: by the beloved
• प्रियेण: Karana (Instrument/Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• भुक्तम्: eaten (food)
• भुक्तम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (that which is eaten)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• रोचते: is pleasing
• रोचते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• मनीषिणाम्: of the wise
• मनीषिणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दम्पत्योः: of the couple (husband and wife)
• दम्पत्योः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्पती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (युग्मार्थ), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• प्रीतियोगेन: by the union of affection
• प्रीतियोगेन: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• संगमः: union/meeting
• संगमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रीतिवर्द्धनः: increasing affection
• प्रीतिवर्द्धनः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्द्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘संगमः’)

Speaker

Rājñī (the Queen, continuing speech by context)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: king / audience of the kathā

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A couple in a palace setting, the mood softened: the queen’s firmness transitions into a teaching on prīti; gestures show offering/accepting (a fruit, betel, or cup) symbolizing affectionate exchange.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rightful intimacy is rooted in mutual affection (prīti); love grows through consent and harmony.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is mentioned; the verse focuses on household dharma.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it offers ethical guidance rather than a ritual rule.