Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

अथ सा पश्यतस्तस्य विवस्त्रा प्राविशज्जलम् । दिव्यरूपसमोपेता घर्मार्ता वरवर्णिनी

Transliteration

atha sā paśyatastasya vivastrā prāviśajjalam | divyarūpasamopetā gharmārtā varavarṇinī

Translation

ତାହାପରେ ସେ ଦେଖୁଥିବାବେଳେ ସେ ନାରୀ—ବସ୍ତ୍ରହୀନା—ଜଳରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କଲା; ଦିବ୍ୟରୂପଯୁକ୍ତ, ଘର୍ମତାପରେ କ୍ଲାନ୍ତ, ଅତି ସୁନ୍ଦରୀ।

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पश्यतः: of (him) watching
• पश्यतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'of (him) who is seeing'

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विवस्त्रा: naked; unclothed
• विवस्त्रा: Visheshana (Adjectival to 'सा'/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञर्थक-उपसर्गसदृश (without clothes)

• प्राविशत्: entered
• प्राविशत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• दिव्यरूपसमोपेता: having a divine form
• दिव्यरूपसमोपेता: Visheshana (Adjectival to 'सा'/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + समुप-इ (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त (क्त), समासः (दिव्यं रूपं समुपेता = having attained a divine form)

• घर्मार्ता: tormented by heat
• घर्मार्ता: Visheshana (Adjectival to 'सा'/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः (घर्मेण आर्ता = distressed by heat)

• वरवर्णिनी: of excellent complexion
• वरवर्णिनी: Visheshana (Adjectival to 'सा'/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वरः वर्णः यस्याः)

Speaker

Narrator (Brāhmaṇa Vatsa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant, exquisitely beautiful woman with divine aura steps into the river, unclothed, seeking relief from heat; the sage is shown at a distance, witnessing the unexpected scene amid shimmering water and summer light.

Characters & Entities

• Menakā
• River/water (jala)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The scene introduces a test of senses and restraint, a recurring Purāṇic theme around ascetics and sacred places.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The action centers on a sacred waterbody/riverbank locale, typical of tīrtha narratives; the specific tīrtha name is not given in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No prescription; it narrates entry into water (snāna-context) as part of the episode.