Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 6
शरणागतानां परिपालनेन ह्यन्नप्रदानेन शृणुष्व पुत्र । ऋणप्रदाने द्विजदेवतानां तद्वै फलं जागरणेन् विष्णोः
śaraṇāgatānāṃ paripālanena hyannapradānena śṛṇuṣva putra | ṛṇapradāne dvijadevatānāṃ tadvai phalaṃ jāgaraṇen viṣṇoḥ
Listen, my son: the very fruit gained by protecting those who seek refuge, by giving food, and by repaying what is owed to the god-like twice-born (brāhmaṇas)—that same merit is indeed obtained through keeping a sacred night-vigil (jāgara) for Viṣṇu (in Dvārakā).
Skanda (deduced from Dvārakā Māhātmya didactic narration style within Skanda Purāṇa)
Tirtha: Dvārakā-jāgaraṇa (Viṣṇu)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Putra (disciple/son figure)
Scene: A night scene in Dvārakā: devotees awake with lamps, singing before Viṣṇu; outside, food is distributed and a supplicant is sheltered; a brāhmaṇa receives repayment respectfully—three dharmas mirrored by the vigil’s merit.
FAQs
A single concentrated act of devotion—keeping a night-vigil for Viṣṇu—can bestow the same merit as major dharmic duties like protecting the helpless, feeding others, and honoring obligations to brāhmaṇas.
Dvārakā is glorified through the Dvārakā Māhātmya context, presenting it as a powerful setting for Viṣṇu worship and jāgaraṇa.
Viṣṇu-jāgaraṇa—staying awake in devotional observance (night vigil) for Viṣṇu—is prescribed as a high-merit practice, comparable to annadāna, śaraṇāgata-protection, and repaying dues to brāhmaṇas.