Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

आश्विने मासि संप्राप्ते नव रात्रे विशेषतः । उपोष्य नवरात्रं च स्नात्वा कुण्डे समाहितः

Transliteration

āśvine māsi saṃprāpte nava rātre viśeṣataḥ | upoṣya navarātraṃ ca snātvā kuṇḍe samāhitaḥ

Translation

ആശ്വിനമാസം വന്നാൽ, പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് നవరാത്രികളിൽ, നవరാത്രവ്രതമായി ഉപവസിച്ച് കുണ്ടിൽ സ്നാനം ചെയ്ത് മനസ്സിനെ സമാധാനത്തോടെ ഏകാഗ്രമാക്കണം.

Word by Word

• आश्विने: in (the) Āśvina (month)
• आश्विने: Adhikaraṇa (Location/Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्विन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; मास-विशेषण (in the month of Āśvina)

• मासि: in the month
• मासि: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• संप्राप्ते: when (it has) arrived
• संप्राप्ते: Adhikaraṇa (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + प्र + आप् (धातु) → संप्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• नव: nine
• नव: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषण; (here) नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन—‘नव(सु) रात्रेषु’ अर्थे

• रात्रे: in the night(s) / at the time of nights
• रात्रे: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (with संप्राप्ते)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Sambandha (Adverbial modifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उपोष्य: having fasted
• उपोष्य: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Prior action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप + वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• नवरात्रम्: the nine-night (observance)
• नवरात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यापूर्वकः)

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

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Prior action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• कुण्डे: in the pond/pit (kuṇḍa)
• कुण्डे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• समाहितः: composed, concentrated
• समाहितः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘composed/collected’

Speaker

Unknown (contextual narrator within Māheśvara Khaṇḍa discourse)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Koṭitīrtha-associated Kuṇḍa (contextual)

Type: kund

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Night-time Navarātra setting: pilgrims fasting, holding lamps; a calm sacred pond reflects moonlight; a devotee bathes reverently and then sits composed in meditation near the water’s edge.

Characters & Entities

• Āśvina
• Navarātra
• Kuṇḍa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Seasonal sacred time (kāla) and sacred place (tīrtha) together intensify spiritual practice—fasting, bathing, and mental steadiness are emphasized.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A sacred ‘kuṇḍa’ (pond/tank) connected to the Koṭitīrtha-ādi Māhātmya setting is referenced for ritual bathing.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Observe Navarātra fasting (upoṣa) in Āśvina, bathe in the kuṇḍa, and maintain focused composure (samāhita).