Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

सोनुकूलासु पत्नीषु लब्ध्वा पुत्रान्महौजसः । चिरेण प्रार्थितां लेभे कन्यामेकां वराननाम्

Transliteration

sonukūlāsu patnīṣu labdhvā putrānmahaujasaḥ | cireṇa prārthitāṃ lebhe kanyāmekāṃ varānanām

Translation

അനുകൂലസ്വഭാവമുള്ള ഭാര്യമാരിൽ നിന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം മഹാബലമുള്ള പുത്രന്മാരെ നേടിയിരുന്നുവെങ്കിലും, ദീർഘകാലത്തിന് ശേഷം ഏറെ പ്രാർത്ഥിച്ച ഫലമായി ഒരു സുന്ദരമുഖിയായ ഏക കന്യയെ ലഭിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• सोनुकूलासु: in (his) Sonukūlā (named)
• सोनुकूलासु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सोनुकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• पत्नीषु: among wives
• पत्नीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (absolutive/gerund), ‘having obtained’

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• महौजसः: of the mighty/very powerful (one)
• महौजसः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महौजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्; ‘महद्+ओजस्’ कर्मधारयः; सम्बन्ध (of)

• चिरेण: after a long time
• चिरेण: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्; कालवाचक-प्रयोगः (used adverbially: ‘after a long time’)

• प्रार्थिताम्: (one) who had been requested/sought
• प्रार्थिताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रार्थित (प्र+अर्थ्/प्रार्थ् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle)

• लेभे: obtained
• लेभे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• कन्याम्: a maiden/daughter
• कन्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• एकाम्: one
• एकाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; संख्याविशेषणम्

• वराननाम्: having a beautiful face
• वराननाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरानना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; ‘वर+आनना’ कर्मधारयः

Speaker

Unknown (narrative voice within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa; likely the main narrator)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A royal household scene: the king receiving news of a long-prayed daughter’s birth; queens and attendants in a palace chamber; auspicious lamps, conch, and blessing gestures.

Characters & Entities

• Citravarman (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Children are portrayed as divine gifts; persistent prayer and dharmic life culminate in blessings in due time.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it advances the family narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; the verse highlights prārthanā (earnest prayer) and the resulting blessing.