Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

युष्मदग्रे चतुर्दश्यां प्रेतपक्ष उपस्थिते । खेचरत्वं समायातं सर्वेषां भवतां स्फुटम्

Transliteration

yuṣmadagre caturdaśyāṃ pretapakṣa upasthite | khecaratvaṃ samāyātaṃ sarveṣāṃ bhavatāṃ sphuṭam

Translation

In eurer eigenen Gegenwart, am vierzehnten Tag, wenn die Zeit der Pitṛs (Pretapakṣa) eintritt, ist euch allen deutlich das Erlangen des Zustands des „Himmelsgängers“ zuteilgeworden.

Word by Word

• युष्मत्-अग्रे: in your presence / before you
• युष्मत्-अग्रे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (युष्माकम् अग्रे = in your presence/front)

• चतुर्दश्याम्: on the fourteenth lunar day
• चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्

• प्रेतपक्षे: in the fortnight of the departed (pitṛ/pretas)
• प्रेतपक्षे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेतपक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रेतानां पक्षः)

• उपस्थिते: when (it) has arrived / being present
• उपस्थिते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु) → उपस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सति-सप्तमी (when it has arrived/being present)

• खेचरत्वम्: the state of being a sky-goer (flight)
• खेचरत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेचरत्व (प्रातिपदिक; खेचर + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• समायातम्: has come / has been attained
• समायातम्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-या (धातु) → समायात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘आगतं/प्राप्तम्’

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (6th/Genitive), बहुवचनम्

• भवताम्: of you (hon.)
• भवताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/भवद्-शब्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (6th/Genitive), बहुवचनम्; आदरार्थे ‘you (hon.)’

• स्फुटम्: clearly / plainly
• स्फुटम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्फुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

Speaker

Indra

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Camatkārapura (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra (or a divine speaker) declares that on Pretapakṣa caturdaśī, in the assembled brāhmaṇas’ presence, a clear attainment of ‘sky-going’ status has arisen for all; the moment is charged with ritual-season sanctity and divine assurance.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Pretapakṣa
• Caturdaśī
• khecaratva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Proper timing in dharma—especially during Pretapakṣa—manifests extraordinary results when joined with sacred action and purity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse emphasizes the sacred time (Pretapakṣa, Caturdaśī) rather than naming a new site beyond the ongoing Gayā-kūpa context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It highlights Caturdaśī during Pretapakṣa as a significant ritual occasion, implying heightened efficacy for rites like śrāddha.