Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

अनलंकृतमात्मानं देशांते भर्तरि स्थिते । कार्यार्थं प्रोषिते क्वापि सर्व्वमंड नवर्जिता

Transliteration

analaṃkṛtamātmānaṃ deśāṃte bhartari sthite | kāryārthaṃ proṣite kvāpi sarvvamaṃḍa navarjitā

Translation

ഭർത്താവ് കർത്തവ്യാർത്ഥം മറ്റൊരു ദേശത്ത് എവിടെയെങ്കിലും പോയിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, അവൾ സ്വയം അലങ്കാരമില്ലാതെ വെയ്ക്കുകയും എല്ലാ ശൃംഗാര-മണ്ഡനങ്ങളും ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अनलंकृतम्: unadorned
• अनलंकृतम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् + अलंकृत (कृदन्त; √अलङ्कृ)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, PPP) नकार-निषेधपूर्वक; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; ‘आत्मानम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• आत्मानम्: herself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• देशान्ते: at the edge of the place / in a corner
• देशान्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देशान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: देशस्य अन्तः

• भर्तरि: when the husband
• भर्तरि: Adhikarana (With respect to/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्थिते: being present/standing
• स्थिते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, PPP) सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘भर्तरि स्थिते’ = ‘when the husband is present/standing’ (locative absolute)

• कार्यार्थम्: for some task/purpose
• कार्यार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: कार्यस्य अर्थः (purpose of work)

• प्रोषिते: when (he) is away
• प्रोषिते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, PPP) सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘(भर्तरि) प्रोषिते’ = ‘when the husband is away’ (locative absolute)

• क्वापि: somewhere
• क्वापि: Desha-adhikarana (Place adverb/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (indefinite adverb: somewhere/anywhere)

• सर्वमण्डनवर्जिता: devoid of all adornment
• सर्वमण्डनवर्जिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + मण्डन + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वर्ज्) + टाप्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: सर्वं मण्डनं वर्जितं यस्याः सा; कृदन्त (क्त) ‘वर्जित’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अवर्जिता: not excluded/deprived (textually problematic)
• अवर्जिता: Karta (Predicate qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वर्ज्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त (क्त) नकार-निषेधपूर्वक; (पाठदोष/पाठभेदः—‘न अवर्जिता’ = ‘not devoid’, अर्थतः ‘वर्जिता’ अपेक्षितम्)

Speaker

Sūta

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A wife in simple garments, hair unadorned, seated near a lamp in a quiet home while the husband is shown traveling for duty in the distance; her renunciation of finery becomes visible austerity.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Self-restraint and modesty are presented as outward signs supporting inner fidelity and disciplined dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is referenced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A niyama (observance) is described: avoiding adornment while the husband is away.