Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

चतुर्दशीदिने हस्तनक्षत्रे हर्षणाभिधे । योगे चैत्रे सिते पक्ष आसीद्दमनकोत्सवः

Transliteration

caturdaśīdine hastanakṣatre harṣaṇābhidhe | yoge caitre site pakṣa āsīddamanakotsavaḥ

Translation

On the fourteenth lunar day, under the Hasta constellation, in the yoga called Harṣaṇa—during the bright fortnight of Caitra—there was the festival of Damanaka.

Word by Word

• caturdaśī-dine: on the fourteenth lunar day
• caturdaśī-dine: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक) + dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—चतुर्दश्याः दिने (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• hasta-nakṣatre: in the Hasta constellation
• hasta-nakṣatre: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—हस्त-नामकं नक्षत्रम्

• harṣaṇābhidhe: named Harṣaṇā
• harṣaṇābhidhe: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harṣaṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—हरषणाया अभिधा/नाम (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• yoge: in the (astrological) yoga
• yoge: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• caitre: in the month of Caitra
• caitre: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; मासवाचक

• site: bright (white)
• site: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘pakṣe’)

• pakṣe: in the fortnight
• pakṣe: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• āsīt: there was
• āsīt: Kriyā (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (भूतकाल/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• damanaka-utsavaḥ: the Damanaka festival
• damanaka-utsavaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: damanaka (प्रातिपदिक) + utsava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—दमनकस्य उत्सवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Gṛdhra (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Jagadyogeśvara

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Indradyumna

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vibrant temple festival in spring: Damanakotsava on Caitra śukla caturdaśī, with auspicious star and yoga; devotees prepare floral offerings and celebratory rites around the Śiva shrine.

Characters & Entities

• Jagadyogeśvara (implied context)
• Śiva (implied context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is practiced in time: auspicious calendrical alignments are highlighted as supportive conditions for worship and festival merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The festival is situated in the previously mentioned Jagadyogeśvara Śiva setting (forest shrine).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Observance of a specific festival (Damanakotsava) on Caitra śukla caturdaśī with stated nakṣatra and yoga.