Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

उपवासं च दानानि व्रतानि नियमांस्तथा । चचार द्वादशाब्दानि ततो मुक्तः स किल्बिषैः

Transliteration

upavāsaṃ ca dānāni vratāni niyamāṃstathā | cacāra dvādaśābdāni tato muktaḥ sa kilbiṣaiḥ

Translation

Il observa jeûnes, dons, vœux et disciplines durant douze années ; ensuite il fut délivré de ses fautes.

Word by Word

• उपवासम्: fasting
• उपवासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine accusative singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• दानानि: gifts; charities
• दानानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (neuter accusative plural)

• व्रतानि: vows; observances
• व्रतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (neuter accusative plural)

• नियमान्: disciplines; restraints
• नियमान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (masculine accusative plural)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारार्थक (adverb; likewise/also)

• चचार: practiced
• चचार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परिपूर्णभूत/परोक्षभूत), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (perfect; 3rd singular; practiced/performed)

• द्वादशाब्दानि: twelve years
• द्वादशाब्दानि: Karma (Extent/कर्म-प्रवृत्तिमात्रा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश-अब्द (प्रातिपदिक; द्वादश + अब्द)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम्; कालपरिमाणे (neuter accusative plural; for twelve years)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अनन्तर-कालार्थक (adverb; then/thereupon)

• मुक्तः: freed
• मुक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्तः; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (past participle; masculine nominative singular; freed)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine nominative singular; he)

• किल्बिषैः: from sins
• किल्बिषैः: Apadana (Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किल्बिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम्; अपादान/वियोगार्थे (instrumental plural used for separation: from sins)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced for Āvantya Khaṇḍa narrative style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā)

Type: tirtha

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Soma as an ascetic on the Narmadā bank: fasting, giving alms to sages, observing vows through seasons; a montage-like narrative of twelve years.

Characters & Entities

• Vrata
• Dāna
• Upavāsa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sustained dharmic discipline—fasting, charity, vows, and restraint—functions as purification and leads to release from sin.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse does not name a specific tīrtha; it continues the Revā Khaṇḍa context of purification connected with sacred practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Upavāsa (fasting), dāna (charity), vrata (vows), and niyama (observances) practiced over a long period (twelve years).