Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

ताः सर्वा रजनीवक्त्रे व्याकुलत्वं प्रयांति च । आहरंति परान्गन्धान्धूपांश्च कुसुमानि च

Transliteration

tāḥ sarvā rajanīvaktre vyākulatvaṃ prayāṃti ca | āharaṃti parāngandhāndhūpāṃśca kusumāni ca

Translation

ครั้นราตรีมาเยือน สตรีทั้งหลายก็พลันกระสับกระส่าย; แล้วนำกลิ่นหอมอันประณีต ธูปหอม และดอกไม้มาถวาย

Word by Word

• ताः: those (women)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• रजनी-वक्त्रे: in the night-face (i.e., at night)
• रजनी-वक्त्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रजनीनां वक्त्रम्)

• व्याकुलत्वम्: agitation, restlessness
• व्याकुलत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याकुलत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• प्रयान्ति: they go/attain
• प्रयान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आहरन्ति: they bring
• आहरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• परान्: excellent, superior
• परान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• गन्धान्: fragrances, perfumes
• गन्धान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• धूपान्: incense
• धूपान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुसुमानि: flowers
• कुसुमानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Atithi

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Night falls; a group of women bustle with restlessness, carrying trays of perfumes, incense, and fresh flowers toward an inner chamber/court.

Characters & Entities

• Women of the inner palace
• Perfumes (gandha)
• Incense (dhūpa)
• Flowers (kusuma)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse depicts sensory preoccupation and restlessness, a common Purāṇic backdrop for teaching restraint and the dangers of indulgence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is named in this verse; it provides narrative atmosphere within the Tīrthamāhātmya chapter.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; although dhūpa and flowers are ritual items in worship, here they are described as palace luxuries rather than a prescribed rite.