Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

पुन्नागवनविभ्रांतपुंस्कोकिलविराविणि । वसन्तसमये रम्ये विजहार स्त्रिया सह

Transliteration

punnāgavanavibhrāṃtapuṃskokilavirāviṇi | vasantasamaye ramye vijahāra striyā saha

Translation

ପୁନ୍ନାଗବନରେ ଏଠି-ସେଠି ଉଡ଼ିବୁଲୁଥିବା ପୁଂସ୍କୋକିଳମାନଙ୍କ ମଧୁର କୁହୁଧ୍ୱନିରେ ଗୁଞ୍ଜିତ, ସେଇ ରମ୍ୟ ବସନ୍ତକାଳରେ ରାଜା ନିଜ ରାଣୀ ସହିତ ବିହାର କଲେ।

Word by Word

• पुन्नागवनविभ्रान्तपुंस्कोकिलविराविणि: in (a place) resounding with male cuckoos roaming in the punnāga-grove
• पुन्नागवनविभ्रान्तपुंस्कोकिलविराविणि: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुन्नाग-वन-विभ्रान्त-पुंस्-कोकिल-विराविन् (प्रातिपदिक; पुन्नाग=Indian beech, वन=grove, विभ्रान्त=roaming, पुंस्=male, कोकिल=cuckoo, विराविन्=crying)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (locative describing place)

• वसन्तसमये: in the spring season
• वसन्तसमये: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन्त-समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्

• रम्ये: pleasant, delightful
• रम्ये: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying समये)

• विजहार: he sported/enjoyed
• विजहार: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• स्त्रिया: with (his) wife/woman
• स्त्रिया: Sahakāraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचनम्; सह-योगे (with)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; उपसर्गसदृशं सहार्थकं (particle meaning 'with')

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa addressing sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In spring, a punnāga grove alive with male cuckoos’ calls; the king enjoys sport with his queen amid fragrant blossoms and fluttering birds.

Characters & Entities

• king (nṛpa)
• queen/consort

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It highlights the allure of kāma and comfort, which in Purāṇic narrative often precede a moment requiring dharmic courage and compassion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is stated in this verse; it is a narrative setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; this verse is purely descriptive.