Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

पुरा दाशरथी रामो निहत्य युधि रावणम् । ब्रह्महत्याविमोक्षाय गंधमादनपर्वते

Transliteration

purā dāśarathī rāmo nihatya yudhi rāvaṇam | brahmahatyāvimokṣāya gaṃdhamādanaparvate

Translation

Autrefois, Rāma, fils de Daśaratha—ayant terrassé Rāvaṇa au combat—se rendit au mont Gandhamādana, cherchant à être délivré de la souillure de la brahmahatyā.

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time)

• दाशरथी: son of Daśaratha
• दाशरथी: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाशरथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्तृ/Nominative), एकवचन

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्तृ/Nominative), एकवचन

• निहत्य: having slain
• निहत्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि-√हन् (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वक्रिया

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• रावणम्: Ravana
• रावणम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्महत्याविमोक्षाय: for release from brahma-hatya (sin of Brahmin-slaying)
• ब्रह्महत्याविमोक्षाय: Sampradana (Purpose/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या (प्रातिपदिक) + विमोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्महत्यायाः विमोक्षः)

• गंधमादनपर्वते: on Mount Gandhamadana
• गंधमादनपर्वते: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धमादन (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (गन्धमादनः पर्वतः)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gandhamādana

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: After the battle, Rāma, still bearing the gravity of Rāvaṇa-vadha, travels northward to the fragrant Gandhamādana; snowy peaks, ascetics, and a mood of solemn expiation surround him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Rāvaṇa
• Gandhamādana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the righteous seek purification through prescribed sacred means, showing humility before dharma and the purifying power of tīrthas.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Mount Gandhamādana, presented as a locus of powerful tīrthas connected to purification and liberation from sin.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The intent of prāyaścitta (expiation) is stated; subsequent verses indicate worship and ablution connected to a liṅga and sacred waters.