Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

वर्षेवर्षे प्रकर्त्तव्यं बलिदानं यथाविधि । कार्यं च मंगलस्नानं पुरुषेण महात्मना

Transliteration

varṣevarṣe prakarttavyaṃ balidānaṃ yathāvidhi | kāryaṃ ca maṃgalasnānaṃ puruṣeṇa mahātmanā

Translation

Tahun demi tahun, persembahan bali hendaknya dilakukan menurut tata-aturan; dan sang insan berhati luhur pun patut menjalankan mandi suci yang membawa keberkahan (maṅgala-snana).

Word by Word

• वर्षे: in a year
• वर्षे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वर्षे: each year
• वर्षे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (वर्षे वर्षे = प्रतिवर्षम्)

• प्रकर्त्तव्यम्: should be performed
• प्रकर्त्तव्यम्: Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु) → प्रकर्त्तव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थ (ought to be done)

• बलिदानम्: bali-offering
• बलिदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलिदान (प्रातिपदिक; बलि + दान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/in the manner)

• विधि: according to rule
• विधि: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावे (यथाविधि = विधिना)

• कार्यं: should be done
• कार्यं: Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्/ण्यत्-भावे कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कर्तव्यम्’ अर्थे

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

• मंगलस्नानम्: auspicious bath
• मंगलस्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मंगल + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः

• पुरुषेण: by the man
• पुरुषेण: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• महात्मना: by the great-souled
• महात्मना: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; महा + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (पुरुषेण इति)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator within Brāhma Khaṇḍa context; exact speaker not explicit in the excerpt)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devout householder or patron performs an annual bali offering at a small shrine and then proceeds to a river/pond for maṅgala-snana at dawn; attendants carry lamps, flowers, and clean garments.

Characters & Entities

• Kuladevatā (implied)
• Maṅgalasnāna

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is preserved through steady, annual observance—regular devotion and purity practices sustain auspiciousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The prescription belongs to the Dharmāraṇya context, reinforcing the sanctity of its settlement traditions.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Annual bali-dāna according to rule, along with maṅgala-snana (auspicious bathing).