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

تمہیں ہمیشہ ایسے عظیم دیس میں رہنا چاہیے جو شِو کے نور سے معمور ہو۔ جہاں جہاں بدکار عورت یا طوائف ہو، اور جہاں شہوت کا غلام مرد ٹھہرا رہے—

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.