Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 47
संप्राप्ते वासरे विष्णोर्ये न कुर्वंति जागरम् । मज्जंति नरके घोरे नरानार्य्यो न संशयः
saṃprāpte vāsare viṣṇorye na kurvaṃti jāgaram | majjaṃti narake ghore narānāryyo na saṃśayaḥ
यदा विष्णोः पवित्रो वासरः संप्राप्यते, ये तस्मिन् जागरं न कुर्वन्ति, ते नूनं दुस्तरे घोरनरके मज्जन्ति; ते नरानार्याः, न संशयः।
Narratorial voice within Dvārakā Māhātmya (contextual Purāṇic instruction)
Tirtha: Dvārakā
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣis/assembly (implied)
Scene: A night in sacred Dvārakā: devotees keep lamp-lit vigil before Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa, while in contrast a shadowy lower realm suggests the ‘ghora naraka’ awaiting the negligent; the verse’s tone is admonitory, emphasizing choice and consequence.
FAQs
The text stresses seriousness in sacred observance: neglect of a known dharmic duty (vigil on Viṣṇu’s day) is portrayed as spiritually ruinous.
The setting remains Dvārakā Māhātmya, where Viṣṇu-centered calendrical observances are presented as especially weighty and meritorious.
Keeping jāgaraṇa (night vigil) when Viṣṇu’s vāsara (holy day) occurs.