Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

ततःप्रभृति लोकानां हिताय परमेश्वरी । अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यामुपवासपरायणः

Transliteration

tataḥprabhṛti lokānāṃ hitāya parameśvarī | aṣṭamyāṃ ca caturdaśyāmupavāsaparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

Von da an, zum Heil der Welten, setzte die Höchste Göttin diese Observanz ein: am achten und am vierzehnten Mondtag soll man sich dem Fasten hingeben.

Word by Word

• ततः: from then
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (from then)

• प्रभृति: onward
• प्रभृति: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रभृति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ-सीमावाचक (onwards)

• लोकानाम्: of the people/worlds
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• हिताय: for welfare/benefit
• हिताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/for)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (for the welfare)

• परमेश्वरी: the supreme goddess
• परमेश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (परमा ईश्वरी)

• अष्टम्याम्: on the eighth (tithi)
• अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/on)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/and)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चतुर्दश्याम्: on the fourteenth (tithi)
• चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/on)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

• उपवास: fasting
• उपवास: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पूर्वपद (in compound)

• परायणः: devoted/intent on
• परायणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (कश्चित्/मानवः इत्यर्थे)

Speaker

Unspecified in snippet (continuation of narrative in Tīrthamāhātmya; likely Sūta’s narration around Sarasvatī’s observance)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: The listening assembly (śaunaka-ādi or general ṛṣi-sabhā implied by Sūta frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devotees on aṣṭamī/caturdaśī keep a quiet fast: simple white garments, lamps lit, offerings arranged; the ghat is calm; the shrine glows as the vow is observed for universal welfare.

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvatī
• Parameśvarī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Vrata-discipline (fasting on sacred tithis) is presented as a compassionate, world-benefiting dharma that amplifies spiritual merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Sarasvatī tīrtha context of Nāgarakhaṇḍa, where the vrata is linked to the goddess’s presence and the site’s sanctity.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Upavāsa (fasting) specifically on aṣṭamī and caturdaśī.