Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

विष्णोश्च दयिता नित्यं चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः । केतुना स्वीकृतो दर्भो याज्ञिकेयो महाफलः

Transliteration

viṣṇośca dayitā nityaṃ cāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ | ketunā svīkṛto darbho yājñikeyo mahāphalaḥ

Translation

Il est à jamais cher à Viṣṇu, surtout durant la saison de Cāturmāsya. L’herbe darbha est agréée par Ketu ; elle appartient au célébrant du yajña (yājñika) et procure un grand fruit spirituel.

Word by Word

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• दयिता: beloved (female)/dear one
• दयिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दयिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: always)

• चातुर्मास्ये: in the Cāturmāsya period
• चातुर्मास्ये: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चातुर्मास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/विशेषण (adverb: especially)

• केतुना: by Ketu
• केतुना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वीकृतः: accepted/taken up
• स्वीकृतः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वी√कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दर्भः: darbha grass
• दर्भः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• याज्ञिकेयः: ritual-related/pertaining to sacrifice
• याज्ञिकेयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याज्ञिकेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तद्धित-प्रत्ययान्त (patronymic/derivative)

• महाफलः: greatly fruitful
• महाफलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् फलम्/महाफलः)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Nāgara-khaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narration style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Monsoon-season temple scene: Viṣṇu worship in Cāturmāsya—devotees with tulasī and lamps; a priest sits on a darbha seat, holding darbha ring (pavitra) and arranging darbha for saṅkalpa; Ketu is hinted as a comet-like banner in the sky, pacified by the rite.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Cāturmāsya
• Ketu
• Darbha (grass)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred seasons and proper ritual implements intensify merit; devotion to Viṣṇu and correct yajña-materials are both emphasized.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of a tīrtha chapter teaching practice and sacred materials; it does not name a particular place here.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

During Cāturmāsya, honor what is dear to Viṣṇu; employ darbha grass as a powerful yajña-material associated with Ketu.