Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 44
ब्रह्मोवाच । यथा स्नानं ब्रह्मज्ञानं देहत्यागो गयातले । धर्मारण्ये तथा दैत्य धर्म्मेश्वरपुरः स्थिते
brahmovāca | yathā snānaṃ brahmajñānaṃ dehatyāgo gayātale | dharmāraṇye tathā daitya dharmmeśvarapuraḥ sthite
ব্রহ্মা বললেন—যেমন গয়াতলে স্নান, ব্রহ্মজ্ঞান ও দেহত্যাগ পরম ফলদায়ক, তেমনি হে দৈত্য, ধর্ম্মেশ্বরপুরের সান্নিধ্যে ধর্মারণ্যেও (কর্ম) তদ্রূপ।
Brahmā
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya (near Dharmmeśvara-pura)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Lohāsura (Daitya)
Scene: Brahmā speaks authoritatively, gesturing toward a forest-kṣetra with a Śiva shrine (Dharmmeśvara-pura). In the background, pilgrims bathe; a subtle vision of Gayā appears as a comparative sacred silhouette.
FAQs
A tīrtha’s greatness is measured by transformative outcomes—purification, higher knowledge, and final merit—comparable to famed places like Gayā.
Dharmāraṇya, specifically the sacred precinct “in front of/at” Dharmmeśvara-pura, is exalted; Gayā is used as the benchmark.
Tīrtha-bathing (snāna) is implied; the verse also frames the site as potent for brahmajñāna and for attaining merit at the time of death.