Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

संध्ययोरुभयोर्जाप्ये भोजने दंतधावने । पितृकार्ये च दैवे च तथा मूत्रपुरीषयोः । गुरूणां संनिधौ दाने योगे चैव विशेषतः । एतेषु मौनमातिष्ठन्स्वर्गं प्राप्नोति मानवः

Transliteration

saṃdhyayorubhayorjāpye bhojane daṃtadhāvane | pitṛkārye ca daive ca tathā mūtrapurīṣayoḥ | gurūṇāṃ saṃnidhau dāne yoge caiva viśeṣataḥ | eteṣu maunamātiṣṭhansvargaṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

Translation

ଉଭୟ ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟାର ଜପରେ, ଭୋଜନ ସମୟରେ, ଦାନ୍ତ ଧୋଇବାବେଳେ, ପିତୃକାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଓ ଦେବପୂଜାରେ, ଏବଂ ମୂତ୍ର-ପୁରୀଷ ସମୟରେ; ଗୁରୁସନ୍ନିଧିରେ, ଦାନକାଳେ, ବିଶେଷତଃ ଯୋଗରେ—ଏହି ସବୁ ଅବସରରେ ମୌନ ଧାରଣ କରୁଥିବା ମାନବ ସ୍ୱର୍ଗ ପାଏ।

Word by Word

• संध्ययोः: of the two twilight-times (morning & evening)
• संध्ययोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual); विशेषण (qualifier)

• जाप्ये: in (the act of) japa/recitation
• जाप्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाप्य (प्रातिपदिक; जप्-धातु से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• भोजने: during eating
• भोजने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक; भुज्-धातु से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• दंतधावने: during tooth-cleaning
• दंतधावने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + धावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दन्तानां धावनम्)

• पितृकार्ये: in ancestral rites
• पितृकार्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितॄणां कार्यम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दैवे: in divine rites (for gods)
• दैवे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• मूत्रपुरीषयोः: of urine and feces (i.e., during urination/defecation)
• मूत्रपुरीषयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (मूत्रं च पुरीषं च)

• गुरूणाम्: of the elders/teachers
• गुरूणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Plural)

• संनिधौ: in the presence
• संनिधौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संनिधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दाने: during giving (charity)
• दाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक; दा-धातु से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• योगे: during yoga/meditation
• योगे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक; युज्-धातु से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय; विशेष-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• एतेषु: in these (situations)
• एतेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• मौनम्: silence
• मौनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• आतिष्ठन्: observing/maintaining
• आतिष्ठन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (agreeing with मानवः)

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राप्नोति: attains
• प्राप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• मानवः: a man/person
• मानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Unknown (Prabhāsakṣetramāhātmya narration; ācāra on mauna and ritual discipline)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sequence tableau: a devotee at dawn and dusk sandhyā facing water; silent meal; tooth-cleaning; pitṛ-tarpaṇa; pūjā before a deity; discreet toileting area; guru seated with disciple in silence; a dāna moment; and finally a yogic posture—each framed by a ‘mauna’ gesture (finger to lips or calm closed mouth).

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Guru

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Silence at key ritual and bodily moments cultivates reverence, self-control, and spiritual merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The surrounding narrative is the Prabhāsa Kṣetra māhātmya, though the rule is broadly applicable.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Observe mauna during sandhyā-japa, eating, tooth-cleaning, pitṛ-kārya, deva-pūjā, bodily functions, in the guru’s presence, during dāna, and during yoga.