Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

कुरुते तद्व्रतं प्राहुः सुप्ते देवे गुणोत्तरम् । वह्निहोमो विप्रभक्तिः श्रद्धा धर्मे मतिः शुभा

Transliteration

kurute tadvrataṃ prāhuḥ supte deve guṇottaram | vahnihomo viprabhaktiḥ śraddhā dharme matiḥ śubhā

Translation

Man sagt, man solle jenes Gelübde vollziehen; wenn der Herr im heiligen Schlaf weilt, wird es an Verdienst noch erhabener. Feueropfer (Homa), Verehrung der Brāhmaṇas, Glaube an das Dharma und eine heilsame Ausrichtung des Geistes — dies sind die tragenden Tugenden.

Word by Word

• कुरुते: does, performs
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राहुः: they declare
• प्राहुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• सुप्ते: when (he is) asleep
• सुप्ते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; स्वप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• देवे: when the god (is)
• देवे: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी सह

• गुणोत्तरम्: more meritorious, superior in virtue
• गुणोत्तरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (comparative/superior in merit)

• वह्निहोमः: fire-offering (homa)
• वह्निहोमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि + होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विप्रभक्तिः: devotion to Brahmins
• विप्रभक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रद्धा: faith
• श्रद्धा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धर्मे: in dharma/righteousness
• धर्मे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मतिः: inclination, understanding
• मतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुभा: auspicious, good
• शुभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of मति)

Speaker

Brahmā

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Pilgrims at a tīrtha during Cāturmāsya: a small homa-kuṇḍa with steady flames; a devotee offering āhuti while elders/brāhmaṇas are respectfully served; Viṣṇu symbolically depicted in yoganidrā on Śeṣa in the background as the cosmic context of the season.

Characters & Entities

• Deva (Viṣṇu implied)
• Vipra (brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A vow’s power increases in sacred seasons, and it must be supported by worship, reverence, faith, and pure intention.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in the verse; it lists the components of a meritorious vrata within the māhātmya framework.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform the vow during Cāturmāsya (supte deve) with homa (fire-offering), respect for brāhmaṇas, faith in dharma, and an auspicious mindset.