Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

विधायापरपक्षे तु स्नापयित्वा विधानतः । मंडपाद्यं च प्राक्कृत्वा स्नात्वा धौतांबरः शुचिः

Transliteration

vidhāyāparapakṣe tu snāpayitvā vidhānataḥ | maṃḍapādyaṃ ca prākkṛtvā snātvā dhautāṃbaraḥ śuciḥ

Translation

Rồi, vào nửa tháng tối (apakṣa), sau khi sắp đặt theo nghi thức và làm lễ tắm gội (snāpana) đúng pháp—trước hết dựng mandapa và chuẩn bị các vật dụng cần thiết—người ấy nên tắm, mặc y phục đã giặt sạch, và giữ thân tâm thanh tịnh.

Word by Word

• vidhāya: having arranged/done
• vidhāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dhā (धा धातु) उपसर्ग: vi-; (कृत्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (having done)

• apara-pakṣe: in the dark fortnight / latter half
• apara-pakṣe: Adhikaraṇa (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अपरे पक्षे = in the latter fortnight)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• snāpayitvā: having bathed (someone)/having caused bathing
• snāpayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √snā (स्ना धातु) णिच् (causative) → snāpaya; क्त्वा
• Form: णिजन्त-क्त्वान्त (causative gerund), अव्यय; ‘स्नापयित्वा’ = having caused to bathe

• vidhānataḥ: according to rule
• vidhānataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• maṃḍapa-ādyam: the pavilion and the like
• maṃḍapa-ādyam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃḍapa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मण्डपादि = pavilion etc.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• prāk: beforehand
• prāk: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāk (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• kṛtvā: having done/made
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √snā (स्ना धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय

• dhauta-āṃbaraḥ: wearing washed garments
• dhauta-āṃbaraḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhauta (√dhāv/√dhau? ‘to wash’ → धौत, कृदन्त) + āṃbara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (धौतं अम्बरं यस्य)

• śuciḥ: pure/clean
• śuciḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Bhartṛyajña (contextual continuation)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A ritual pavilion is erected; the performer bathes at a sacred waterbody, then returns in clean white garments, ready for the offering and worship.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purification is not only inner intent but also outer discipline—timing, cleanliness, and careful preparation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader section is a tīrtha-māhātmya, but this verse focuses on ritual preparation rather than naming the site.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform the rite in the dark fortnight, prepare a pavilion, bathe properly, and wear clean washed clothes while maintaining purity.