Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

त्वां दृष्ट्वा रतिसंकाशां बाधते मां मनोभवः । सुकण्ठनामधेयस्य विद्याधरपतेरहम्

Transliteration

tvāṃ dṛṣṭvā ratisaṃkāśāṃ bādhate māṃ manobhavaḥ | sukaṇṭhanāmadheyasya vidyādharapateraham

Translation

നിന്നെ രതിദേവിയെപ്പോലെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ മനോഭവൻ (കാമദേവൻ) എന്നെ പീഡിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. ഞാൻ ‘സുകണ്ഠ’ എന്ന പേരുള്ള വിദ്യാധരപതിയുടെ പുത്രൻ ആകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• रतिसंकाशाम्: resembling Rati
• रतिसंकाशाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रति + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (त्वाम्)

• बाधते: afflicts / torments
• बाधते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बाध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मनोभवः: Kāma (love-god; mind-born)
• मनोभवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् + भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सुकण्ठनामधेयस्य: of (one) named Sukaṇṭha
• सुकण्ठनामधेयस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकण्ठ + नामधेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• विद्याधरपतेः: of the lord of Vidyādharas
• विद्याधरपतेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्याधर + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sudarśana

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setukṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Sudarśana, visibly love-struck, gestures toward his heart while introducing himself as connected to Sukaṇṭha, lord of Vidyādharas; the maiden stands composed, luminous like Rati.

Characters & Entities

• Rati
• Manobhava (Kāma)
• Sukaṇṭha
• Vidyādhara lord
• Sudarśana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It acknowledges desire’s force while also presenting lineage—hinting that social and dharmic order frames relationships.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Setukhaṇḍa’s Setukṣetra setting forms the pilgrimage backdrop, though the verse itself is narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse.