Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

महादेशे शिवमये वस्तव्यं भवता सदा । कुलटा गणिका यत्र यत्र तिष्ठति कामुकः

Transliteration

mahādeśe śivamaye vastavyaṃ bhavatā sadā | kulaṭā gaṇikā yatra yatra tiṣṭhati kāmukaḥ

Translation

Deves sempre residir numa grande região permeada por Śiva. Onde quer que se encontre a mulher devassa ou a cortesã, e onde quer que permaneça o homem movido pela luxúria—

Word by Word

• महादेशे: in a great region
• महादेशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; (महान् देशः)

• शिवमये: filled with Śiva/auspiciousness
• शिवमये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शिवेन मयः)

• वस्तव्यम्: should be dwelt (one should reside)
• वस्तव्यम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विधेय (to be dwelt)

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Kartā (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; आदरार्थे (polite 'by you')

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (time adverb)

• कुलटा: a wanton woman
• कुलटा: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• गणिका: a courtesan
• गणिका: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक सम्बन्धबोधक (relative adverb: where)

• यत्र: wherever
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• तिष्ठति: stands/remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कामुकः: a lustful man
• कामुकः: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Unspecified (didactic instruction; verse continues into the next, completing the thought)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Śivamaya Mahādeśa (generic Śaiva kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Śiva-filled sacred town with a temple and bilva trees; the seeker walks toward the temple precinct while turning away from a shadowy alley symbolizing kāma-driven spaces.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Prefer spiritually charged, Śiva-centered regions and avoid environments dominated by lust and moral disorder.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named; the verse praises “Śiva-maya” regions in general as ideal places to dwell.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a prescription of residence and association (saṅga), a key element of purāṇic dharma.