Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

श्रीखण्डकुंकुमेनैव तथा मृगमदेन च । विलेपयेदपुत्रस्तु स पुत्रं लभते धुवम्

Transliteration

śrīkhaṇḍakuṃkumenaiva tathā mṛgamadena ca | vilepayedaputrastu sa putraṃ labhate dhuvam

Translation

以檀香膏与朱砂（kuṅkuma）并以麝香涂抹供奉女神者，若无子嗣，必定得一子。

Word by Word

• श्रीखण्डकुंकुमेन: with sandalwood and saffron
• श्रीखण्डकुंकुमेन: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + कुंकुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (श्रीखण्डं च कुंकुमं च)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipāta (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis: “indeed/only”)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: “likewise/also”)

• मृगमदेन: with musk
• मृगमदेन: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगमद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मृगस्य मदः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• विलेपयेत्: should anoint / cause to be smeared
• विलेपयेत्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु) + वि- (उपसर्ग) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive sense), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिजन्त (cause to smear/anoint)

• अपुत्रः: a sonless man
• अपुत्रः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थक (one without a son)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Nipāta (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: “but/indeed”)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुत्रम्: a son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative: “certainly”)

Speaker

Sūta (deduced: Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa narration style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Rukmiṇī shrine (Dvārakā)

Type: temple

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devotees seeking specific boons (kāmya)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A childless couple offers sandal paste, kuṅkuma, and musk to anoint Rukmiṇī’s image; the Goddess is shown with gentle maternal auspiciousness; a symbolic cradle or infant form appears as a blessing motif.

Characters & Entities

• Rukmiṇī (implied)
• Kṛṣṇa (context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The māhātmya asserts that devoted, fragrant offerings to the देवी bring auspicious family blessings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā, through ritual service to Rukmiṇī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Anointing (lepa) with sandal paste, kuṅkuma, and musk for the boon of progeny.