Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 72

Devanagari script

वनाश्रिताश्चौषधयः स्वादवंति फलानि च । गंधवंति च माल्यानि विमलं च नभोऽभवत्

Transliteration

vanāśritāścauṣadhayaḥ svādavaṃti phalāni ca | gaṃdhavaṃti ca mālyāni vimalaṃ ca nabho'bhavat

Translation

ਵਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਸਰਾ ਲੈਣ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਔਸ਼ਧੀਆਂ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਸ਼ਾਲੀ ਹੋ ਗਈਆਂ; ਫਲ ਹੋਰ ਮਿੱਠੇ ਹੋਏ; ਮਾਲਾਵਾਂ ਹੋਰ ਸੁਗੰਧਿਤ ਹੋਈਆਂ; ਅਤੇ ਆਕਾਸ਼ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਤੇ ਨਿਸ਼ਕਲੰਕ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ।

Word by Word

• वनाश्रिताः: dwelling in the forest
• वनाश्रिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रित (कृदन्त; √श्रि धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘आश्रित’ = आश्रयणं कृतवान्; समासः षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘वनम् आश्रिताः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• औषधयः: herbs/medicinal plants
• औषधयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• स्वादवन्ति: tasty, flavorful
• स्वादवन्ति: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वादवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; ‘स्वादवत्’ = स्वादयुक्त

• फलानि: fruits
• फलानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गन्धवन्ति: fragrant
• गन्धवन्ति: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्धवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; ‘गन्धवत्’ = सुगन्धयुक्त

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• माल्यानि: garlands
• माल्यानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• विमलम्: pure, spotless
• विमलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नभः: sky
• नभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Himalayan forest around Menā’s abode: herbs gleam with potency, fruits appear fuller and sweeter, garlands exude intensified fragrance, and the sky turns crystal-clear—an atmosphere of sanctified freshness.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When dharma and divinity arise, even nature reflects purity—sweetness, fragrance, and clarity manifest.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse emphasizes sanctified atmosphere rather than naming a particular tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual instruction appears in this verse.