Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 48

Devanagari script

निःशेषदोषदावाग्नौ महीसागरसंगमे । पितॄणां देवतानां च कृत्वा तर्पणसत्क्रियाः

Transliteration

niḥśeṣadoṣadāvāgnau mahīsāgarasaṃgame | pitṝṇāṃ devatānāṃ ca kṛtvā tarpaṇasatkriyāḥ

Translation

At the confluence of earth and ocean—like a forest-fire that burns away every remaining fault—they performed the proper tarpaṇa rites and reverent offerings for the Pitṛs and for the gods.

Word by Word

• निःशेष-दोष-दावाग्नौ: in the wildfire of (burning) all faults completely
• निःशेष-दोष-दावाग्नौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निःशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक) + दावाग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; ‘निःशेषाः दोषाः’ इति विशेषणपूर्वकः); पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन

• महीसागर-संगमे: at the land-sea confluence
• महीसागर-संगमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + सागर (प्रातिपदिक) + संगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः; पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Beneficiary relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th case/genitive); बहुवचन

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• देवतानाम्: Sambandha (Beneficiary relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having done’

• तर्पण-सत्क्रियाः: libations and proper rites
• तर्पण-सत्क्रियाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (द्वन्द्वः: तर्पणं च सत्क्रियाश्च); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case); बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narration style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mahī–Sāgara-saṅgama

Type: sangam

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At the shoreline confluence, brāhmaṇas stand in shallow water offering tarpaṇa with cupped hands; a symbolic ‘fire of purity’ aura surrounds the sangama, while offerings flow toward ancestors and gods.

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Devatās

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred confluences amplify dharma: tarpaṇa and proper rites can purify faults and honor both ancestors and deities.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A saṅgama described as the confluence of earth and ocean (mahī-sāgara-saṅgama), praised for sin-destroying potency.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Performing tarpaṇa and satkriyā—proper libations/offerings and observances—for Pitṛs and devatās.