Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

एवं विभवसंपन्ना वेश्या कामविहारिणी । शिवपूजारता नित्यं सत्यधर्मपरायणा

Transliteration

evaṃ vibhavasaṃpannā veśyā kāmavihāriṇī | śivapūjāratā nityaṃ satyadharmaparāyaṇā

Translation

இவ்வாறு பெரும் வைபவம் பெற்ற அந்த வேசி, இன்பவிளையாட்டுகளில் உலாவினாலும், எப்போதும் சிவபூஜையில் ஈடுபட்டு, சத்தியமும் தர்மமும் ஆகியவற்றில் உறுதியாகப் பற்றுடையவளாய் இருந்தாள்.

Word by Word

• evaṃ: thus
• evaṃ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• vibhava-saṃpannā: endowed with wealth
• vibhava-saṃpannā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of veśyā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vibhava (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpanna (कृदन्त; √pad (पद्) + सम्, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विभवेन सम्पन्ना = endowed with prosperity)

• veśyā: courtesan
• veśyā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veśyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• kāma-vihāriṇī: one who sports in pleasures/desire
• kāma-vihāriṇī: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of veśyā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + vihāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक; √hṛ (हृ) with vi-, णिनि-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कामे विहारिणी)

• śiva-pūjā-ratā: devoted to Śiva-worship
• śiva-pūjā-ratā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of veśyā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य पूजायां रता)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Temporal modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• satya-dharma-parāyaṇā: wholly devoted to truth and righteousness
• satya-dharma-parāyaṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of veśyā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सत्ये धर्मे च परायणाः/परायणा)

Speaker

Narrator (context not explicit in snippet; likely a Purāṇic narrator within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A richly adorned courtesan in a private shrine space: a Śiva-liṅga or Śiva icon before her, lamps lit; despite luxurious surroundings, her posture is humble and focused, hands in añjali.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion to Śiva and commitment to truth and dharma can sanctify a person regardless of worldly occupation or social labeling.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named in this verse; the focus is Śiva-bhakti and righteous conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Śiva-pūjā (worship of Śiva) is explicitly mentioned as her constant practice.