Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 102

Devanagari script

वीरचर्याविधानेन नगरे भ्रामयेन्निशि । वीरचर्या स कथितो दीपः सर्वार्थसाधकः

Transliteration

vīracaryāvidhānena nagare bhrāmayenniśi | vīracaryā sa kathito dīpaḥ sarvārthasādhakaḥ

Translation

Par l’observance prescrite appelée vīracaryā, on doit parcourir la ville durant la nuit. Cette vīracaryā est proclamée une « lampe » qui accomplit tous les buts.

Word by Word

• वीरचर्याविधानेन: by the procedure of vīra-practice
• वीरचर्याविधानेन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरचर्याविधान (प्रातिपदिक; वीरचर्या + विधान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• नगरे: in the city
• नगरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• भ्रामयेत्: should cause to wander/should move about
• भ्रामयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भ्रम् (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Causative optative 3rd sg

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• वीरचर्या: vīra-practice (heroic/ritual conduct)
• वीरचर्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरचर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• सा: that (practice)
• सा: Anvaya (Correlative/अन्वय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Pronoun

• कथितः: is said/called
• कथितः: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथित (कृदन्त; √कथ् धातु + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past passive participle

• दीपः: a lamp
• दीपः: Karta (Appositional subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (apposition)

• सर्वार्थसाधकः: accomplishing all aims
• सर्वार्थसाधकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वार्थसाधक (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + अर्थ + साधक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular qualifying दीपः

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) speaking to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsakṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee performs vīracaryā at night in the sacred city of Prabhāsa, carrying a bright oil-lamp; temple silhouettes and quiet streets glow in lamplight, suggesting protection and fulfillment of aims.

Characters & Entities

• Vīracaryā
• Dīpa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Courageous, disciplined observance (vīracaryā) is portrayed as a spiritual ‘light’ leading to the fulfillment of rightful aims.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsakṣetra, where this vīracaryā is taught as part of the local māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Night-time roaming in the city following the vīracaryā procedure, associated with a goal-fulfilling ‘lamp’ (dīpa).