Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । चातुर्मास्ये हरौ सुप्ते पार्वती नियतव्रता । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा हरिभक्तिपरायणा

Transliteration

brahmovāca | cāturmāsye harau supte pārvatī niyatavratā | manasā karmaṇā vācā haribhaktiparāyaṇā

Translation

ब्रह्मा म्हणाले—चातुर्मास्यात, हरि शयनस्थ आहेत असे मानले जाते तेव्हा, व्रतनिष्ठ पार्वती मनाने, कर्माने व वाणीने हरिभक्तीतच पूर्णत: तत्पर होती।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• चातुर्मास्ये: in the Cāturmāsya period (four-month vow season)
• चातुर्मास्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चातुर्मास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हरौ: when/while Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुप्ते: asleep
• सुप्ते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्त (कृदन्त; √स्वप् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); हरौ इति विशेषण

• पार्वती: Pārvatī
• पार्वती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नियतव्रता: of restrained/observed vows
• नियतव्रता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); पार्वती इति विशेषण

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• कर्मणा: by deed/action
• कर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• हरिभक्तिपरायणा: devoted to devotion to Hari
• हरिभक्तिपरायणा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि + भक्ति + परायण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); पार्वती इति विशेषण

Speaker

Brahmā

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nārada

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Split-scene: Viṣṇu reclining in yoganidrā on Śeṣa (symbol of ‘Hari asleep’) above; below, Pārvatī stands or sits in vow posture, hands in japa mudrā, radiating devotion through mind-speech-body symbolism (three subtle flames or lotuses).

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Pārvatī
• Hari (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True observance is total—mind, speech, and action aligned in devotion—especially during sacred seasons like Cāturmāsya.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader discourse sits within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya frame, though this verse spotlights Cāturmāsya practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Maintaining niyata-vrata (disciplined vows) and sustained devotion during Cāturmāsya is prescribed by example.