Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 81

Devanagari script

चैत्रशुक्लतृतीयायामुपोषणपरायणः । महोपचारैः संपूज्य दुकूलाभरणादिभिः

Transliteration

caitraśuklatṛtīyāyāmupoṣaṇaparāyaṇaḥ | mahopacāraiḥ saṃpūjya dukūlābharaṇādibhiḥ

Translation

On the bright third day of the month of Caitra, devoted to fasting, one should worship (Maṅgalāgaurī) with great offerings—fine garments, ornaments, and the like.

Word by Word

• चैत्रशुक्लतृतीयायाम्: on the third (tithi) of the bright fortnight of Caitra
• चैत्रशुक्लतृतीयायाम्: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + तृतीया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (चैत्रस्य शुक्लपक्षस्य तृतीया)

• उपोषणपरायणः: devoted to fasting
• उपोषणपरायणः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपोषण (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उपोषणे परायणः = devoted to fasting)

• महोपचारैः: with great offerings/services
• महोपचारैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान्तः उपचाराः)

• संपूज्य: having worshipped well
• संपूज्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-प्राय (absolutive/gerund; -य form), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकाले कृतक्रिया (having duly worshipped)

• दुकूलाभरणादिभिः: with fine cloth, ornaments, and the like
• दुकूलाभरणादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुकूल (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (दुकूलानि च आभरणानि च आदयः)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Maṅgalāgaurī-vrata (Caitra Śukla Tṛtīyā)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: On Caitra’s bright third day, a devotee in simple fasting attire offers fine white cloth and ornaments before Maṅgalāgaurī’s image, with spring blossoms and a clean altar arranged with many upacāras.

Characters & Entities

• Caitra Śukla Tṛtīyā
• Maṅgalāgaurī
• Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Auspicious results arise when devotion is expressed through disciplined vrata—fasting, reverent worship, and generous offerings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The rite is taught within Kāśī’s sacred framework, where goddess-worship and vrata are presented as pathways to merit.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Fasting on Caitra Śukla Tṛtīyā and worship with major offerings such as fine cloth and ornaments.