Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

पुण्यं भागवतं स्कांदपुराणं दयितं हरेः । माधुरं बालचरितं गोपीनां चरितं तथा

Transliteration

puṇyaṃ bhāgavataṃ skāṃdapurāṇaṃ dayitaṃ hareḥ | mādhuraṃ bālacaritaṃ gopīnāṃ caritaṃ tathā

Translation

ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਭਾਗਵਤ, ਸਕੰਦ ਪੁਰਾਣ—ਜੋ ਹਰਿ ਨੂੰ ਅਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਿਯ ਹੈ—ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਮਿੱਠੇ ਬਾਲ-ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ, ਤਥਾ ਗੋਪੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਵੀ (ਉਸ ਜਾਗਰਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਠਯ ਹਨ)।

Word by Word

• पुण्यम्: meritorious, holy
• पुण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• भागवतम्: the Bhāgavata (Purāṇa/text)
• भागवतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• स्कान्दपुराणम्: the Skanda Purāṇa
• स्कान्दपुराणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कान्द + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): स्कान्दस्य पुराणम्

• दयितम्: beloved, dear
• दयितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• माधुरम्: sweet, charming
• माधुरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• बालचरितम्: the childhood exploits
• बालचरितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल + चरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः: बालस्य चरितम् (childhood deeds)

• गोपीनाम्: of the gopīs
• गोपीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• चरितम्: deeds, narrative
• चरितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse connective/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: समुच्चय/उपपद (adverb/conjunctive: 'also, likewise')

Speaker

Brahmā (deduced from discourse continuity)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A night vigil where a reciter reads Bhāgavata and Skanda Purāṇa; behind, vignette-like panels show Kṛṣṇa’s bāla-līlā (butter theft) and gopī scenes, all framed as sacred remembrance.

Characters & Entities

• Bhāgavata Purāṇa
• Skanda Purāṇa
• Hari (Viṣṇu)
• Gopīs

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Listening to and reciting Hari’s sacred narratives (Hari-kathā) is itself a purifying act and a central limb of devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā, where scriptural reading about Hari is recommended for the Dvādaśī vigil.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Reciting/reading the Bhāgavata, the Skanda Purāṇa, Krishna’s bāla-carita, and gopī narratives during the night observance.