Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 132

Devanagari script

वित्ताभावेऽपि दर्शायां श्राद्धं देयं विपश्चिता । तदभावे च कन्यायां संस्थिते दिवसाधिपे

Transliteration

vittābhāve'pi darśāyāṃ śrāddhaṃ deyaṃ vipaścitā | tadabhāve ca kanyāyāṃ saṃsthite divasādhipe

Translation

Même en l’absence de biens, le sage doit offrir le Śrāddha au jour de Darśā (nouvelle lune). Si cela n’est pas possible, qu’il l’accomplisse lorsque le Soleil—seigneur du jour—se tient en Kanyā (Vierge).

Word by Word

• वित्त-अभावे: in the absence of wealth
• वित्त-अभावे: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वित्तस्य अभावः)

• अपि: even
• अपि: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अप्यर्थे (even/also)

• दर्शायाम्: on the new-moon (day)
• दर्शायाम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• देयम्: should be given/performed
• देयम्: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → देय (कृदन्त, यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थे)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (to be given)

• विपश्चिता: by the wise (man)
• विपश्चिता: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपश्चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचकः (by the wise person)

• तद्-अभावे: in its absence (i.e., if that is not possible)
• तद्-अभावे: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तस्य अभावः = its absence)

• च: and
• च: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• कन्यायाम्: in Virgo (Kanyā)
• कन्यायाम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• संस्थिते: when (he) is situated
• संस्थिते: Adhikarana (Time-state/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) → संस्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; विशेषणम् (दिवसाधिपे)

• दिवस-अधिपे: when the lord of the day (Sun) is (there)
• दिवस-अधिपे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दिवसस्य अधिपः = सूर्यः)

Speaker

Unspecified in this snippet (continuing instruction within the Śrāddha-kalpa narrative)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: nṛpa (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A modest household performs a simple śrāddha on new-moon: minimal offerings, sincere posture; above, a darkened sky suggests amāvāsyā; a zodiac motif subtly indicates Kanyā as an alternative sacred timing.

Characters & Entities

• Darśā (Amāvāsyā)
• Sūrya (divasādhipa)
• Kanyā-rāśi (Virgo)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ancestral duty (pitṛ-dharma) should be upheld even with minimal means; sincerity and proper timing sustain the rite’s merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The instruction occurs within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya of the Nāgara Khaṇḍa (a tīrtha-focused setting), though this verse itself emphasizes timing rather than a named spot.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform Śrāddha on Darśā (Amāvāsyā); if not feasible, perform it when the Sun is in Kanyā (Virgo).