Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

तत्र स्नातं हुतं जप्तं तप्तं दत्तं शुभार्थिभिः । कुरुक्षेत्राद्भवेत्सत्यं कोटिकोटिगुणाधिकम्

Transliteration

tatra snātaṃ hutaṃ japtaṃ taptaṃ dattaṃ śubhārthibhiḥ | kurukṣetrādbhavetsatyaṃ koṭikoṭiguṇādhikam

Translation

Bathing there, offering oblations, reciting mantras, performing tapas (austerities), and giving gifts—done by seekers of auspiciousness—truly yields merit surpassing that of Kurukṣetra by tens of millions upon tens of millions of times.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• स्नातम्: bathed (act of bathing)
• स्नातम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु) → स्नात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग; (स्नानकृतम्)

• हुतम्: offered in fire
• हुतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हु (धातु) → हुत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (होमकृतम्)

• जप्तम्: recited (japa done)
• जप्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप् (धातु) → जप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (मन्त्रजपकृतम्)

• तप्तम्: austerity performed
• तप्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप् (धातु) → तप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (तपःकृतम्)

• दत्तम्: given (as gift)
• दत्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (दानकृतम्)

• शुभार्थिभिः: by those seeking auspiciousness
• शुभार्थिभिः: Karana (Instrument/Agentive means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभार्थिन् = शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; (शुभं अर्थयन्ति इति)

• कुरुक्षेत्रात्: than/from Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be/becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सत्यम्: truly / as a fact
• सत्यम्: Karma (Result/कर्म-फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेष्य/फलवाचक

• कोटिकोटिगुणाधिकम्: greater by crores upon crores of times
• कोटिकोटिगुणाधिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटिकोटिगुणाधिक = कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (परिमाणवाचक)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kurukṣetra-sthalī at Sannihatyā Mahāpuṣkariṇī (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sequence tableau: pilgrims bathing, a small fire-altar with offerings, a sage chanting japa with mālā, an ascetic in tapas posture, and a donor giving alms—each action radiating a luminous aura labeled ‘koṭi-koṭiguṇa’ merit.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• Kurukṣetra
• Sannihatyā/Kurukṣetra-sthalī (context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In a highly sanctified tīrtha, ordinary dharmic acts (snāna, dāna, japa) become extraordinarily fruitful due to the place’s inherent sanctity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kurukṣetra-equivalent sacred spot in Kāśī (introduced in the prior verse near Lolārka and Sannihatyā Mahāpuṣkariṇī).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Snāna (bathing), huta (fire offerings), japa (mantra repetition), tapas (austerity), and dāna (charity) performed there for auspicious aims.