Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 72

Devanagari script

वैशाखे कार्त्तिके मासे विशेषनियमांश्चरेत् । स्नानं दानं तीर्थयात्रां पुराणश्रवणं मुहुः

Transliteration

vaiśākhe kārttike māse viśeṣaniyamāṃścaret | snānaṃ dānaṃ tīrthayātrāṃ purāṇaśravaṇaṃ muhuḥ

Translation

In the months of Vaiśākha and Kārttika, one should undertake special observances—repeatedly performing sacred bathing, giving dāna, making pilgrimage to tīrthas, and often listening to the Purāṇas.

Word by Word

• वैशाखे: in (the month of) Vaiśākha
• वैशाखे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशाख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; काल-अधिकरण

• कार्त्तिके: in (the month of) Kārttika
• कार्त्तिके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्त्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; काल-अधिकरण

• मासे: in the month
• मासे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• विशेष-नियमान्: special observances
• विशेष-नियमान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; कर्म (objects of practice)

• चरेत्: should practice/observe
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक; √स्ना धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (as an item to be done)

• दानम्: charity/giving
• दानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक; √दा धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

• तीर्थ-यात्राम्: pilgrimage
• तीर्थ-यात्राम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

• पुराण-श्रवणम्: hearing/recitation of Purāṇas
• पुराण-श्रवणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रु धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

• मुहुः: repeatedly/often
• मुहुः: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: repeatedly/often)

Speaker

Deductive: a Purāṇic narrator/teacher within Brahmakhaṇḍa (speaker not explicit in the snippet)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vaiśākha–Kārttika sacred-month observance (māsa-māhātmya)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A montage-like sacred-month observance: pilgrims bathing at a river ghat at dawn, donors giving alms, a small group walking toward a temple, and a seated assembly listening to Purāṇa recitation under a pavilion.

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśākha (month)
• Kārttika (month)
• Purāṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Certain sacred months amplify dharma: disciplined practice through bath, charity, pilgrimage, and Purāṇa-hearing deepens merit and devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Tīrthas in general are praised; no single location is specified in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Special monthly niyamas in Vaiśākha and Kārttika: snāna, dāna, tīrtha-yātrā, and frequent Purāṇa-śravaṇa.