Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

अधिदेव्या वचनतो जीर्णोद्धारं करोम्यहम् । धर्मारण्ये हरिक्षेत्रे धर्मकूपसमीपतः

Transliteration

adhidevyā vacanato jīrṇoddhāraṃ karomyaham | dharmāraṇye harikṣetre dharmakūpasamīpataḥ

Translation

Auf Geheiß der waltenden Göttin werde ich die Wiederherstellung dessen vollziehen, was in Verfall geraten ist—hier in Dharmāraṇya, im Harikṣetra, nahe dem heiligen Brunnen namens Dharmakūpa.

Word by Word

• अधिदेव्या: by/through the presiding goddess
• अधिदेव्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिदेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; 'अधिदेवी' इति नाम

• वचनतः: according to the command/words
• वचनतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) = 'वचनतः' (from the words/command)

• जीर्णोद्धारम्: renovation/restoration of the dilapidated (thing)
• जीर्णोद्धारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीर्ण + उद्धार (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जीर्णस्य उद्धारः)

• करोमि: I do / I will perform
• करोमि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तम-पुरुष; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धर्मारण्ये: in Dharmāraṇya (the forest of Dharma)
• धर्मारण्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य अरण्यम्)

• हरिक्षेत्रे: in Hari’s sacred field/region
• हरिक्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हरेः क्षेत्रम्)

• धर्मकूपसमीपतः: from/near the vicinity of the Dharma-well
• धर्मकूपसमीपतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धर्मकूप + समीप (प्रातिपदिक; समास) + तसिल्
• Form: अव्यय; 'समीप' शब्दे तसिल्-प्रत्यय (ablatival adverb) = 'समीपतः'; पूर्वपदं 'धर्मकूप' (तत्पुरुषः: धर्मस्य कूपः)

Speaker

Unspecified (likely a deity/agent responding to divine instruction within the narrative)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmakūpa (within Dharmāraṇya, Harikṣetra)

Type: kund

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sacred forest clearing in Dharmāraṇya: a venerable well (Dharmakūpa) with worn stone steps; Rāma receives the presiding Goddess’s command and resolves to restore the ruined structure; attendants gather with tools and offerings.

Characters & Entities

• Adhidevī
• Dharmāraṇya
• Harikṣetra
• Dharmakūpa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Restoring sacred sites is a dharmic act; divine command and stewardship of tīrthas are presented as meritorious service.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmakūpa near Harikṣetra in Dharmāraṇya is explicitly named as the sanctified locus.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Jīrṇoddhāra—renovation/restoration of a sacred structure/space—is prescribed under divine instruction.