Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

अंगार सदृशा नारी घृतकुंभसमः पुमान् । अस्पर्शाद्दृढतामेति तत्संपर्काद्विलीयते

Transliteration

aṃgāra sadṛśā nārī ghṛtakuṃbhasamaḥ pumān | asparśāddṛḍhatāmeti tatsaṃparkādvilīyate

Translation

สตรีดุจถ่านไฟคุกรุ่น บุรุษดุจหม้อเนยใส (ฆี) เมื่อไม่แตะต้องย่อมมั่นคง แต่เมื่อสัมผัสย่อมละลายไป

Word by Word

• अङ्गार: a burning coal
• अङ्गार: Upamāna (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; उपमानार्थे (as a standard of comparison)

• सदृशा: similar (to)
• सदृशा: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• घृतकुम्भसमः: like a pot of ghee
• घृतकुम्भसमः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (घृतकुम्भः) इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-समासः + समः; विशेषणम्

• पुमान्: man
• पुमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अस्पर्शात्: from non-contact
• अस्पर्शात्: Hetu/Apādāna (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• दृढताम्: firmness
• दृढताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृढता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

• एति: attains
• एति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्सम्पर्कात्: from contact with that
• तत्सम्पर्कात्: Hetu/Apādāna (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सम्पर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; (तस्य सम्पर्कः) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; हेतौ (cause)

• विलीयते: melts/dissolves
• विलीयते: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ली (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्गः वि-

Speaker

Viśvāmitra (continuing)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A didactic tableau: a glowing ember near a sealed ghee-jar; a pilgrim/ascetic stands at a respectful distance, symbolizing restraint and the preservation of tapas.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse uses vivid metaphor to teach that restraint strengthens tapas, while indulgent contact weakens resolve.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this shloka; it is ethical instruction within the Tīrthamāhātmya setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual act is prescribed; the instruction is a discipline of non-contact (asparśa) to uphold spiritual practice.