Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 69

Devanagari script

द्वादशी दशमीविद्धा संतानप्रविनाशिनी । ध्वंसिनी पूर्वपुण्यानां कृष्णभक्तिविनाशिनी

Transliteration

dvādaśī daśamīviddhā saṃtānapravināśinī | dhvaṃsinī pūrvapuṇyānāṃ kṛṣṇabhaktivināśinī

Translation

Die Dvādaśī, wenn sie von der Daśamī „durchstochen“ und befleckt ist, vernichtet die Nachkommenschaft; sie zerstört frühere Verdienste und tilgt die Hingabe an Kṛṣṇa.

Word by Word

• द्वादशी: the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• द्वादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• दशमीविद्धा: pierced/tainted by Daśamī
• दशमीविद्धा: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशमी+विद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; विद्ध = व्यध्/विध् धातु-निष्पन्न past participle)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of dvādaśī)

• संतानप्रविनाशिनी: destroyer of progeny/lineage
• संतानप्रविनाशिनी: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संतान+प्रविनाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक; विनाशिन्-स्त्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of dvādaśī)

• ध्वंसिनी: destroying
• ध्वंसिनी: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्वंसिन् (प्रातिपदिक; ध्वंसिन्-स्त्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of dvādaśī)

• पूर्वपुण्यानाम्: of former merits
• पूर्वपुण्यानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व+पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• कृष्णभक्तिविनाशिनी: destroyer of devotion to Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णभक्तिविनाशिनी: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण+भक्ति+विनाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक; विनाशिन्-स्त्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of dvādaśī)

Speaker

Unspecified (didactic voice on tithi-vedha)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A calendrical ‘piercing’ is visualized: Dvādaśī tithi clouded by an intrusive Daśamī shadow; a family line (children) fades, while a devotee’s garland and tulasī wither—symbolizing puṇya and bhakti loss.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Bhakti and merit are safeguarded by disciplined practice; incorrect timing is depicted as spiritually corrosive.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā, through teachings connected to Kṛṣṇa’s worship and vows.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Avoid observing Dvādaśī when it is ‘pierced’ by Daśamī (daśamī-viddhā); ensure correct tithi selection.