Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

महाव्रतमिदं प्रोक्तं त्वमपि श्रद्धया चर । अत्यंतदुर्लभं वापि लप्स्यसे च मनोरथम्

Transliteration

mahāvratamidaṃ proktaṃ tvamapi śraddhayā cara | atyaṃtadurlabhaṃ vāpi lapsyase ca manoratham

Translation

ഈ മഹാവ്രതം പ്രസ്താവിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു; നീയും ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ ഇത് ആചരിക്കൂ. അത്യന്തം ദുർലഭമായതും നീ പ്രാപിക്കും; മനോരഥവും സഫലമാകും.

Word by Word

• महाव्रतम्: this great vow
• महाव्रतम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (great vow), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (contextually Nominative/1st as subject-complement), एकवचनम्

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; महाव्रतं विशेषयति

• प्रोक्तम्: has been proclaimed
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘is declared/has been said’ (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुषार्थे सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-निपातः (also/even)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्

• चर: practice/observe
• चर: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्

• अत्यन्त: extremely
• अत्यन्त: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्ययम् (intensifier: extremely)

• दुर्लभम्: hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; (मनोरथं विशेषयति)

• वा: or/even
• वा: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपातः (or/even)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-निपातः (even/also)

• लप्स्यसे: you will obtain
• लप्स्यसे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), आत्मनेपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्

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

• मनोरथम्: desired wish
• मनोरथम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् + रथ (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (chariot of the mind = desire), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Unknown (contextual narrator/instructor within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A teacher-figure points to a written vrata injunction; the listener bows with folded hands, a radiant wish-fulfilling motif (kalpavṛkṣa/maṇi) subtly behind, symbolizing ‘durlabha’ becoming attainable through faith.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Faithful practice of dharma unlocks even rare attainments; śraddhā is presented as the key that makes the vow effective.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is mentioned in this verse; it is a concluding exhortation to observe the vow.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Undertake and practise the proclaimed mahāvrata with faith to obtain difficult boons and fulfil intentions.