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Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 2

अशक्त्या हि शरीरस्य नियमानां कथं चरेत् । व्रतं हि सुकुमारांगो दानैर्वापि वदस्व नः

aśaktyā hi śarīrasya niyamānāṃ kathaṃ caret | vrataṃ hi sukumārāṃgo dānairvāpi vadasva naḥ

«Mas, se o corpo é fraco, como praticar disciplinas rigorosas? Dize-nos um voto adequado ao de corpo delicado—ou então um caminho por meio de dádivas e caridade.»

aśaktyādue to inability
aśaktyā:
Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
TypeNoun
Roota-śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular); हेतौ (because of)
hiindeed
hi:
Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपातः (emphatic particle)
śarīrasyaof the body
śarīrasya:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootśarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Genitive singular)
niyamānāmof the rules (observances)
niyamānām:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootniyama (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (Genitive plural)
kathamhow
katham:
Sambandha (Interrogative/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkatham (अव्यय)
Formप्रश्न-अव्ययम् (interrogative adverb)
caretshould one practice/perform
caret:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootcar (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्
vratama vow
vratam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvrata (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)
hiindeed
hi:
Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपातः (emphatic particle)
sukumārāṅgaḥO one with a delicate body
sukumārāṅgaḥ:
Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootsu-kumāra-aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Nominative singular); संबोधनार्थे/कर्ता-रूपे प्रयोगः
dānaiḥby gifts; through donations
dānaiḥ:
Karana (Means/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootdāna (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)
or
:
Sambandha (Alternative/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
Formविकल्प-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)
apialso
api:
Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय/अपि-निपातः (also/even)
vadasvatell; speak
vadasva:
Kriya (Request/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvad (धातु)
Formलोट्-लकारः (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्
naḥto us
naḥ:
Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (Gen/Dat plural); अत्र चतुर्थी (to us)

Ṛṣis (sages)

Type: kshetra

Listener: pilgrims/ṛṣis (inquisitors)

Scene: A pilgrim-assembly respectfully questions the narrator about a gentle vow for the weak-bodied; the atmosphere is compassionate and instructional, with ascetics and householders listening.

Ṛṣis
V
Vrata
N
Niyama
D
Dāna

FAQs

Purāṇic dharma accommodates human limitation: when austerities are difficult, suitable vratas and dāna provide an accessible path of merit.

No tirtha is named in this verse; it focuses on practical dharma and eligibility.

It requests guidance on a manageable vrata and/or merit through dāna (charitable giving) for those unable to keep strict niyamas.