Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

विष्णुभक्तिमयाञ्श्लोकान्पठन्विष्णुत्वमाप्नुयात् । वार्षिकव्रतकृन्नित्यं तिथिवाराधिदैवतः

Transliteration

viṣṇubhaktimayāñślokānpaṭhanviṣṇutvamāpnuyāt | vārṣikavratakṛnnityaṃ tithivārādhidaivataḥ

Translation

By reciting verses filled with devotion to Viṣṇu, one may attain nearness to Viṣṇu; and the performer of yearly observances (vrata), ever devoted to the presiding deities of lunar days (tithi) and weekdays, gains continual merit.

Word by Word

• विष्णुभक्तिमयान्: filled with devotion to Viṣṇu
• विष्णुभक्तिमयान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः भक्तिः) + तत्पुरुषः (भक्तिमयः)

• श्लोकान्: verses
• श्लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• पठन्: reading/reciting
• पठन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु) → पठत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक-कर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विष्णुत्वम्: Viṣṇu-hood; state of being Viṣṇu
• विष्णुत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तद्धित-प्रत्ययः—त्व (state/essence)

• आप्नुयात्: may attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वार्षिकव्रतकृत्: one who performs annual vows
• वार्षिकव्रतकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्षिक (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-कर्तृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (वार्षिकं व्रतम्) + उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (व्रतं करोति)

• नित्यम्: always/regularly
• नित्यम्: Kala-adhikarana (Time adjunct/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• तिथिवाराधिदैवतः: having the presiding deity of the lunar day and weekday
• तिथिवाराधिदैवतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक) + वार (प्रातिपदिक) + अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (तिथि + वार) + तत्पुरुषः (तिथिवारयोः अधि दैवतम्)

Speaker

Unspecified (Nāgarakhaṇḍa narrative voice within Tīrthamāhātmya)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee recites Viṣṇu-bhakti ślokas before a Viṣṇu icon; a calendar motif (tithi/vāra symbols: moon phases, sun) surrounds, indicating yearly vratas and daily devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotional recitation and disciplined observance aligned with sacred time lead to elevated spiritual attainment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single site is explicitly named in this verse; the emphasis is on bhakti and vrata within a māhātmya setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Recite Viṣṇu-devotional verses and maintain annual vows, honoring the deities presiding over tithis and weekdays.