Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 49

Devanagari script

पितॄणां पिंडदानेन अक्षय्या तृप्तिरस्त्विह । शिवरूपांतराले वै धर्मारण्ये धरातले

Transliteration

pitṝṇāṃ piṃḍadānena akṣayyā tṛptirastviha | śivarūpāṃtarāle vai dharmāraṇye dharātale

Translation

Here, on earth in Dharmāraṇya—within the sacred interval marked by Śiva’s manifestation—by offering piṇḍas, let there be imperishable satisfaction for the Pitṛs.

Word by Word

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पिण्डदानेन: by offering rice-balls (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डदानेन: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + दान (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अक्षय्या: imperishable/inexhaustible
• अक्षय्या: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तृप्तिः: satisfaction
• तृप्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अस्तु: let there be
• अस्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), देशवाचक (here)

• शिवरूपान्तराले: in the interval/space of Śiva’s form (Śivarūpāntarāla)
• शिवरूपान्तराले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + रूप + अन्तराल (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ (certainty)

• धर्मारण्ये: in Dharmāraṇya
• धर्मारण्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• धरातले: on the surface of the earth
• धरातले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा + तल (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Brahmā (continuation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya (Śiva-rūpāntarāla)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A consecrated forest clearing near a Śiva sign (liṅga or manifestation mark); devotees shape rice-balls (piṇḍas) on darbha; pitṛs appear serene, receiving enduring nourishment; the ‘antarāla’ is shown as a luminous boundary ring.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Śiva
• Dharmāraṇya
• Pitṛs
• Piṇḍadāna

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When ancestral offerings are made in a Śiva-sanctified sacred geography, their fruit is described as akṣayya—enduring beyond ordinary limitations.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya on earth, especially the Śiva-marked sacred interval/zone (śivarūpāṃtarāla).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Piṇḍadāna (piṇḍa offerings) for the Pitṛs to obtain imperishable satisfaction.