Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 160

Devanagari script

तत्र भागीरथे तीर्थे श्राद्धं कृत्वा विधानतः । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयित्वा तु ब्रह्मलोके नयेत्पितॄन्

Transliteration

tatra bhāgīrathe tīrthe śrāddhaṃ kṛtvā vidhānataḥ | brāhmaṇānbhojayitvā tu brahmaloke nayetpitṝn

Translation

There, at the Bhāgīratha Tīrtha, having duly performed śrāddha according to rule and then feeding the Brāhmaṇas, one leads one’s ancestors to the world of Brahmā.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb of place)

• भागीरथे: in/at (the) Bhāgīratha (Ganges-related)
• भागीरथे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागीरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण तीर्थे इति पदस्य

• तीर्थे: at the sacred ford/place of pilgrimage
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite (ancestral offering)
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: कृ (करणे)

• विधानतः: according to rule/procedure
• विधानतः: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित/अव्ययप्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त adverb), प्रकारवाचक

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• भोजयित्वा: having fed (caused to eat)
• भोजयित्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) + क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: भुज् (भोजने) → भोजयित्वा

• तु: then/indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle), विरोध/अनुक्रमसूचक

• ब्रह्मलोके: in Brahma’s world
• ब्रह्मलोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समास: ब्रह्मणः लोकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• नयेत्: should lead
• नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पितॄन्: the ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context: Skanda teaching Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Bhāgīratha Tīrtha

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim at a Gaṅgā-side tīrtha performs śrāddha: darbha spread, piṇḍas offered, water libations, then Brāhmaṇas seated in a row receiving food and dakṣiṇā; subtle vision of pitṛs ascending toward Brahmaloka.

Characters & Entities

• Bhāgīratha Tīrtha
• Śrāddha
• Brāhmaṇa
• Pitṛs
• Brahmaloka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In Kāśī, properly performed śrāddha combined with honoring Brāhmaṇas becomes a powerful means for elevating one’s ancestors.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Bhāgīratha Tīrtha, a Gaṅgā-associated sacred spot within the Kāśī sacred geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform śrāddha according to injunctions and then feed Brāhmaṇas as part of the rite.