Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

एवं विभवसंपन्ना वेश्या कामविहारिणी । शिवपूजारता नित्यं सत्यधर्मपरायणा

Transliteration

evaṃ vibhavasaṃpannā veśyā kāmavihāriṇī | śivapūjāratā nityaṃ satyadharmaparāyaṇā

Translation

Demikianlah, walau dikurniai kemewahan besar dan bergerak di tengah kenikmatan, pelacur istana itu tetap tekun memuja Śiva setiap hari, serta teguh berpegang pada kebenaran dan dharma.

Word by Word

• evaṃ: thus
• evaṃ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• vibhava-saṃpannā: endowed with wealth
• vibhava-saṃpannā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of veśyā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vibhava (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpanna (कृदन्त; √pad (पद्) + सम्, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विभवेन सम्पन्ना = endowed with prosperity)

• veśyā: courtesan
• veśyā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veśyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• kāma-vihāriṇī: one who sports in pleasures/desire
• kāma-vihāriṇī: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of veśyā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + vihāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक; √hṛ (हृ) with vi-, णिनि-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कामे विहारिणी)

• śiva-pūjā-ratā: devoted to Śiva-worship
• śiva-pūjā-ratā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of veśyā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य पूजायां रता)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Temporal modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• satya-dharma-parāyaṇā: wholly devoted to truth and righteousness
• satya-dharma-parāyaṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of veśyā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सत्ये धर्मे च परायणाः/परायणा)

Speaker

Narrator (context not explicit in snippet; likely a Purāṇic narrator within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A richly adorned courtesan in a private shrine space: a Śiva-liṅga or Śiva icon before her, lamps lit; despite luxurious surroundings, her posture is humble and focused, hands in añjali.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion to Śiva and commitment to truth and dharma can sanctify a person regardless of worldly occupation or social labeling.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named in this verse; the focus is Śiva-bhakti and righteous conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Śiva-pūjā (worship of Śiva) is explicitly mentioned as her constant practice.