Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 63

Devanagari script

वषट्कारश्च होमश्च पर्व चाग्रायणं तथा । मलमासेऽपि कर्तव्यं काम्या इष्टीर्विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

vaṣaṭkāraśca homaśca parva cāgrāyaṇaṃ tathā | malamāse'pi kartavyaṃ kāmyā iṣṭīrvivarjayet

Translation

即使在被称为“不净”的闰月（malamāsa）中，也应行持Vaṣaṭ呼声、护摩（homa）、节期仪轨（parvan）与初谷供献（āgrāyaṇa）；但为欲望与世间利益而作的可选祭祀iṣṭi，应当避免。

Word by Word

• वषट्कारः: vaṣaṭ-call/vaṣaṭ-utterance
• वषट्कारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वषट्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• होमः: fire-offering
• होमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• पर्व: festival/holy day
• पर्व: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• अग्रायणम्: agrāyaṇa rite (first-fruits offering)
• अग्रायणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्रायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

• मलमासे: in the intercalary month (malamāsa)
• मलमासे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मलमास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि-समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + कर्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत् (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• काम्याः: desire-motivated (optional)
• काम्याः: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘इष्टयः’ इति विशेषणम्

• इष्टिः: sacrificial offering (iṣṭi)
• इष्टिः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; छन्दोऽनुसारं बहुवचनार्थेऽपि एकवचन-रूपप्रयोगः (collective)

• विवर्जयेत्: should avoid
• विवर्जयेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta (deduced from Purāṇic narration style within Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A homa altar burning steadily in malamāsa; the priest performs vaṣaṭ and parvan observances, while a separate tray labeled ‘kāmya iṣṭi’ is set aside, symbolizing restraint.

Characters & Entities

• Malamāsa
• Homa
• Āgrāyaṇa
• Parvan
• Iṣṭi

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In spiritually sensitive times, uphold obligatory and sanctifying rites, but renounce desire-driven ritualism.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The instruction is embedded in Prabhāsa-kṣetra’s māhātmya, where disciplined worship supports the sanctity of the tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform vaṣaṭkāra, homa, parvan observances, and āgrāyaṇa even in malamāsa; avoid kāmya iṣṭis.