Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 91

Devanagari script

सुवर्मेनाथ सौगन्ध्यद्रव्यैः शुभफलैरपि । भुंक्ते वा लवणं पश्चान्नासौ वै विधवा भवेत्

Transliteration

suvarmenātha saugandhyadravyaiḥ śubhaphalairapi | bhuṃkte vā lavaṇaṃ paścānnāsau vai vidhavā bhavet

Translation

ഹേ നാഥാ! സ്വർണം, സുഗന്ധദ്രവ്യങ്ങൾ, ശുഭഫലങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയോടുകൂടി—അവൾ പിന്നെ ലവണം സേവിച്ചാൽ, അവൾ നിശ്ചയമായും വിധവയാകുകയില്ല.

Word by Word

• सुवर्मेना: with suvarman (a substance/name)
• सुवर्मेना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (शब्दप्रयोगानुसार), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• सौगन्ध्यद्रव्यैः: with fragrant substances
• सौगन्ध्यद्रव्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौगन्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सौगन्ध्यस्य द्रव्याणि)

• शुभफलैः: with auspicious fruits
• शुभफलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुभानि फलानि)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (also)

• भुङ्क्ते: eats/consumes
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• लवणम्: salt
• लवणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (afterwards)

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

• असौ: she/that woman
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भे स्त्री), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed)

• विधवा: widow
• विधवा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/प्रत्ययार्थ), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become/be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Śrī Devī (the Goddess)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vrata scene: gold and fragrant substances are offered along with fruits; afterward the woman ritually partakes of a small amount of salt, signifying completion and auspicious protection.

Characters & Entities

• Devī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇic vrata is presented as protective grace for marital auspiciousness, linking devotion and disciplined observance with well-being.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the focus is on vrata-phala (the promised result of the observance).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Employing offerings like gold, fragrances, and auspicious fruits, and then consuming salt afterward as part of the observance.