Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

हंसगद्गदसंभाषा मत्तमातंगगामिनी । विस्तीर्णजघना मध्ये क्षामा दीर्घशिरोरुहा

Transliteration

haṃsagadgadasaṃbhāṣā mattamātaṃgagāminī | vistīrṇajaghanā madhye kṣāmā dīrghaśiroruhā

Translation

ତାହାର କଥା ହଂସର ଭଳି କୋମଳ ଓ ଗଦ୍ଗଦ ଥିଲା; ତାହାର ଗତି ମତ୍ତ ହସ୍ତିନୀ ପରି ଥିଲା। ଜଘନ ବିସ୍ତୀର୍ଣ୍ଣ, ମଧ୍ୟଭାଗ କ୍ଷୀଣ, ଏବଂ କେଶ ଦୀର୍ଘ ଭାବେ ପ୍ରବାହିତ ଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• हंसगद्गदसंभाषा: speaking with a swan-like, sweet-stammering voice
• हंसगद्गदसंभाषा: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हंस + गद्गद + संभाषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• मत्तमातंगगामिनी: walking like an intoxicated elephant
• मत्तमातंगगामिनी: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त + मातंग + गामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• विस्तीर्णजघना: broad-hipped
• विस्तीर्णजघना: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त/भूतकृदन्त from स्तॄ/स्तृ ‘to spread’ or स्तीर्ण) + जघन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• मध्ये: in the middle/waist
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्; अधिकरणे (in/at)

• क्षामा: slim, delicate
• क्षामा: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• दीर्घशिरोरुहा: long-haired
• दीर्घशिरोरुहा: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ + शिरोरुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The maiden walks with a slow, swaying, elephant-like gait; her long hair flows; her speech is imagined as soft, slightly trembling; the scene emphasizes movement—steps, hair, and the listener’s captivated attention.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

By vividly portraying allure, the text prepares the listener to value self-mastery and dharma amid sensory attractions.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No named sacred site appears in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.