Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

नैवांगोद्वर्त्तनं कार्य्यं स्त्रिया विधवया क्वचित् । गन्धद्रव्यस्य संभोगो नैव कार्य्यस्तया क्वचित्

Transliteration

naivāṃgodvarttanaṃ kāryyaṃ striyā vidhavayā kvacit | gandhadravyasya saṃbhogo naiva kāryyastayā kvacit

Translation

വിധവയായ സ്ത്രീ ഒരിക്കലും ശരീരത്തിൽ ഉബട്ടനം/മർദ്ദനം ചെയ്യരുത്; സുഗന്ധദ്രവ്യങ്ങൾ, പരിമളവസ്തുക്കൾ എന്നിവയുടെ ഉപയോഗവും ഒരിക്കലും ചെയ്യരുത്.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• एव: indeed; at all
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• अङ्गोद्वर्तनम्: rubbing/anointing of the body
• अङ्गोद्वर्तनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग-उद्वर्तन (प्रातिपदिक; अङ्ग + उद्वर्तन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कार्यम्: to be done; should be done
• कार्यम्: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + य (कृत्य-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अर्थः ‘कर्तव्यम्’ (here with negation: ‘not to be done’)

• स्त्रिया: by a woman
• स्त्रिया: Kartr-karana (Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विधवया: by a widow
• विधवया: Kartr-karana (Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् स्त्रिया

• क्वचित्: ever; at any time
• क्वचित्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ever/at any time)

• गन्धद्रव्यस्य: of fragrant substances/perfumes
• गन्धद्रव्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध-द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक; गन्ध + द्रव्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• संभोगः: use; enjoyment; application
• संभोगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-भुज् (धातु) + घञ् (प्रत्यय) / संभोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• एव: at all
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• कार्यः: to be done; permissible
• कार्यः: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + य (कृत्य-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् संभोगः

• तया: by her
• तया: Kartr-karana (Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• क्वचित्: ever; at any time
• क्वचित्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Unknown (contextual narrator within Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa; likely a Purāṇic teacher-voice)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A restrained portrait: widowed woman in plain attire, no perfumes or anointing, seated near a small lamp and prayer beads, conveying austerity and inwardness.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse frames restraint from adornment and sensual comforts as a form of disciplined dharma in a specific life-condition.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; it is a conduct rule (niyama) within the Dharmāraṇya section.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It prescribes abstentions: no aṅgodvartana (body anointing/rubbing) and no use of fragrant substances (gandha-dravya).