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
Écoute, mon fils : le fruit obtenu en protégeant ceux qui cherchent refuge, en donnant de la nourriture et en acquittant les dettes envers les dvijas semblables aux dieux (brāhmaṇas), ce même mérite s’obtient en vérité par la veille nocturne sacrée pour Viṣṇu (à 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.