Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

प्रशंसंति विधिं सम्यक्प्राप्ते वा चेंदुसंक्षये । ब्राह्मणानां सुदांतानामनुष्ठानवतां सताम्

Transliteration

praśaṃsaṃti vidhiṃ samyakprāpte vā ceṃdusaṃkṣaye | brāhmaṇānāṃ sudāṃtānāmanuṣṭhānavatāṃ satām

Translation

月の衰え（あるいは月食の時）が訪れるとき、正しい作法はとりわけ称賛される――よく自制し、徳に満ち、聖なる戒行に堅固なバラモンたちと共に修すべきである。

Word by Word

• प्रशंसन्ति: they praise
• प्रशंसन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• विधिम्: the procedure
• विधिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सम्यक्: properly, correctly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• प्राप्ते: when (the time) has come
• प्राप्ते: Adhikarana (Time/occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘when (it is) reached/occurred’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

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

• इन्दुसंक्षये: at the waning/decline of the moon (lunar eclipse/ending)
• इन्दुसंक्षये: Adhikarana (Time/occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + संक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सुदान्तानाम्: well-controlled, disciplined
• सुदान्तानाम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अनुष्ठानवताम्: engaged in observances/ritual performance
• अनुष्ठानवताम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुष्ठान (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सताम्: of the good/virtuous
• सताम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Bhartṛyajña

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A tīrtha setting at twilight with a waning moon; disciplined Brāhmaṇas seated in orderly rows, performing mantra and sankalpa while the yajamāna prepares offerings with reverence.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual efficacy depends on right performance and right participants—self-controlled, observant, and virtuous officiants.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse focuses on ritual qualification and timing within a tīrtha-māhātmya framework rather than naming the site explicitly.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Ensure the rite is done with disciplined Brahmins who are established in proper observances, especially at significant lunar times.