Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

नानारूपधरा देव्यो नानावेषसमाश्रिताः । स्थानादुत्तरदिग्भागे आशापूर्णासमीपतः

Transliteration

nānārūpadharā devyo nānāveṣasamāśritāḥ | sthānāduttaradigbhāge āśāpūrṇāsamīpataḥ

Translation

ദേവിമാർ പല രൂപങ്ങൾ ധരിച്ചു പല വേഷങ്ങൾ സ്വീകരിക്കുന്നു। ആ പുണ്യസ്ഥാനത്തിന്റെ ഉത്തരദിക്കുഭാഗത്ത്, ആശാപൂർണയുടെ സമീപത്ത് അവർ വസിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• नानारूपधराः: bearing various forms
• नानारूपधराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना + रूप + धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (देव्यः)

• देव्यः: goddesses
• देव्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• नानावेषसमाश्रिताः: having assumed various guises
• नानावेषसमाश्रिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना + वेष + समाश्रित (सम्-आ-श्रि धातु, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘समाश्रित’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (देव्यः)

• स्थानात्: from the place
• स्थानात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• उत्तरदिग्भागे: in the northern direction-region
• उत्तरदिग्भागे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर + दिक् + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• आशापूर्णा: Āśāpūrṇā (name of the goddess)
• आशापूर्णा: Sambandha (Reference/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशा + पूर्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण; समासपूर्वपद (देवी-नाम)

• समीपतः: near
• समीपतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समीपतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (postposition-like adverb), अर्थे: ‘near/close to’; सप्तमी-अर्थे प्रयोग

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Āśāpūrṇā (within Dharmāraṇya)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim’s map-like scene: Āśāpūrṇā shrine as anchor, with the northern path leading to multiple Devīs in varied attire—some ascetic, some royal, some fierce—each under distinct trees or small gateways.

Characters & Entities

• Dharmāraṇya
• Āśāpūrṇā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A tīrtha is not abstract—its holiness is mapped in space; approaching Devī with awareness of her sthāna deepens devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya, with special reference to the vicinity of Āśāpūrṇā.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite; the verse provides directional/locational guidance for the Devī-sthāna.