Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

सारस्वतस्य तनयं सामवन्तं नराधिपः । स्त्रीरूपधारिणं चक्रे वस्त्राकल्पां जनादिभिः

Transliteration

sārasvatasya tanayaṃ sāmavantaṃ narādhipaḥ | strīrūpadhāriṇaṃ cakre vastrākalpāṃ janādibhiḥ

Translation

நராதிபதி, சாரஸ்வதனின் மகன் சாமவந்தனைப் பெண் வடிவம் ஏற்கச் செய்து, மக்களால் ஆடையும் அணிகலன்களும் முதலியவற்றை அமைத்தார்.

Word by Word

• सारस्वतस्य: of Sārasvata
• सारस्वतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• तनयम्: son
• तनयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• सामवन्तम्: possessing Sāman (chants)/Sāmavedic
• सामवन्तम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सामवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तनयम्’)

• नराधिपः: the king
• नराधिपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नराणाम् अधिपः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• स्त्रीरूपधारिणम्: one who bears a woman’s form
• स्त्रीरूपधारिणम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री + रूप + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (स्त्रियाः रूपम् धारयति), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (of ‘तनयम्’)

• चक्रे: made/caused
• चक्रे: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; सकर्मक

• वस्त्राकल्पाम्: (female) attire/clothing arrangement
• वस्त्राकल्पाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र + आकल्पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वस्त्राणाम् आकल्पा = dress/attire), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• जनादिभिः: by people and others (attendants)
• जनादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (जनाः आदयः येषां ते), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; सहकारि-करण (means/assistants)

Speaker

Narrator

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In a palace chamber, attendants dress Sāmavant with women’s garments and ornaments; the king supervises the transformation with calculated intent.

Characters & Entities

• Sārasvata
• Sāmavant
• Narādhipa (king)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It sets up a Purāṇic narrative where appearances are manipulated, often to test dharma and reveal deeper truth beyond outer form.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse describes preparation of disguise (clothing and adornment).