Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

आच्छादितं जगत्सर्वं वस्त्रेणाच्छादितो हरिः । चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण वस्त्रदानं महाफलम्

Transliteration

ācchāditaṃ jagatsarvaṃ vastreṇācchādito hariḥ | cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa vastradānaṃ mahāphalam

Translation

സകല ലോകവും വസ്ത്രംകൊണ്ട് മൂടപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു; ഹരിയും വസ്ത്രംകൊണ്ട് ആവൃതനാണ്. അതുകൊണ്ട് ചാതുർമാസ്യത്തിൽ പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് വസ്ത്രദാനം മഹാഫലപ്രദമാണ്.

Word by Word

• आच्छादितम्: covered
• आच्छादितम्: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√छद् (धातु) → आच्छादित (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (जगत्)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: entire
• सर्वम्: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; जगत्-विशेषण

• वस्त्रेण: with a cloth/garment
• वस्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आच्छादितः: covered
• आच्छादितः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√छद् (धातु) → आच्छादित (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (हरिः)

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चातुर्मास्ये: in the Cāturmāsya period
• चातुर्मास्ये: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चातुर्मास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (चातुर् + मास्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial instrumental) = especially

• वस्त्र-दानम्: gift of garments
• वस्त्र-दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (वस्त्रदान = donation of cloth); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महा-फलम्: of great merit/result
• महा-फलम्: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (महाफल = great-fruited); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (वस्त्रदानम्)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya didactic narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A symbolic tableau: the world as a vast expanse wrapped in cloth-like layers, while Hari in temple iconography is being ceremonially dressed; devotees offer folded garments, signifying cosmic care.

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Hari
• Viṣṇu
• Cāturmāsya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Clothing others is aligned with cosmic order and devotion to Hari; hence garment-giving becomes a highly meritorious act.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific site is named; the verse highlights Cāturmāsya charity within the broader tīrtha-mahātmya setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform vastra-dāna (donation of garments), particularly during Cāturmāsya, for great merit.