Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

गते वर्षद्वये सार्द्धे पंचपक्षे दिनद्वये । दिवसस्याऽष्टमे भागे पतत्येकोऽधिमासकः

Transliteration

gate varṣadvaye sārddhe paṃcapakṣe dinadvaye | divasasyā'ṣṭame bhāge patatyeko'dhimāsakaḥ

Translation

When two and a half years have passed—together with five fortnights and two days—then, at the eighth part of a day, one intercalary month (adhimāsa) occurs.

Word by Word

• गते: when elapsed
• गते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; 'गते' = 'when (it is) gone/elapsed' (locative absolute sense)

• वर्षद्वये: in two years
• वर्षद्वये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; 'in two years'

• सार्द्धे: and a half (with half added)
• सार्द्धे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययार्थक-विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; 'with (an additional) half' (i.e., and a half) qualifying the elapsed period

• पञ्चपक्षे: in five fortnights
• पञ्चपक्षे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; 'in five fortnights'

• दिनद्वये: in two days
• दिनद्वये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; 'in two days'

• दिवसस्य: of the day
• दिवसस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• अष्टमे: in the eighth
• अष्टमे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (क्रमवाचक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; 'in the eighth' qualifying 'भागे'

• भागे: part/portion
• भागे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• पतति: falls/occurs
• पतति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• एकः: one
• एकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'one' qualifying 'अधिमासकः'

• अधिमासकः: intercalary month (adhimāsa)
• अधिमासकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + मासक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद/उपसर्गपूर्वक); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahmā (deduced; Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa discourse style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A learned jyotiṣin explains the occurrence of adhimāsa using a pañcāṅga and celestial diagrams; the moon’s phases and a time-wheel are depicted to show the intercalary adjustment.

Characters & Entities

• Adhimāsa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual observances depend on precise sacred time (kāla), and Purāṇas preserve calendrical rules for correct practice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The calendrical rule is taught within the Ayodhyā Māhātmya context, supporting vrata practice at/connected to Ayodhyā.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It gives a rule for when an adhimāsa (intercalary month) occurs—relevant for timing long lunar vows.