Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां पवित्रो मंगलान्वितः । मुक्तिदो रोपितो ध्यातश्चातुर्मास्येऽघनाशनः

Transliteration

aśvatthaḥ sarvavṛkṣāṇāṃ pavitro maṃgalānvitaḥ | muktido ropito dhyātaścāturmāsye'ghanāśanaḥ

Translation

Among all trees, the Aśvattha is pure and filled with auspiciousness. When planted and meditated upon—especially in Cāturmāsya—it grants liberation and destroys sin.

Word by Word

• अश्वत्थः: the aśvattha (sacred fig) tree
• अश्वत्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्ववृक्षाणाम्: of all trees
• सर्ववृक्षाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पवित्रः: pure, sacred
• पवित्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) अश्वत्थस्य

• मङ्गलान्वितः: endowed with auspiciousness
• मङ्गलान्वितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मङ्गल + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• मुक्तिदः: giver of liberation
• मुक्तिदः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति + द (√दा धातु, कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृतान्त-विशेषण (giver of liberation)

• रोपितः: planted
• रोपितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √रुप्/रोप् (धातु) + क्त (past passive participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), कर्मणि; विशेषण

• ध्यातः: meditated upon
• ध्यातः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु) + क्त (past passive participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), कर्मणि; विशेषण

• चातुर्मास्ये: in the Cāturmāsya (four-month period)
• चातुर्मास्ये: Adhikarana (Location/Time locus अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चातुर्मास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• अघनाशनः: destroyer of sin
• अघनाशनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अघ + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Brahmā (deduced from 'Brahma–Nārada saṃvāda' colophon context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Aśvattha

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene Aśvattha radiates auspiciousness; a devotee meditates at its base during Cāturmāsya, with symbols of liberation subtly implied (light, upward birds).

Characters & Entities

• Aśvattha (Pippala)
• Cāturmāsya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Aśvattha-sevā unites outer dharma (planting) with inner dharma (dhyāna), culminating in purification and mokṣa.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Aśvattha is praised as a portable tīrtha—an auspicious sacred presence wherever it is planted and revered.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Planting (ropaṇa) and meditation (dhyāna) on the Aśvattha, with special emphasis during Cāturmāsya.