Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 48

Devanagari script

अत्र स्नानेन मनुजो देवेंद्रत्वं समश्नुते । गजेन गवयेनात्र शरभेण महौजसा

Transliteration

atra snānena manujo deveṃdratvaṃ samaśnute | gajena gavayenātra śarabheṇa mahaujasā

Translation

En se baignant ici, l’homme atteint la dignité d’Indra parmi les dieux. Ici (furent établis des tīrthas) par Gaja, par Gavaya et par le puissant Śarabha.

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• स्नानेन: by bathing
• स्नानेन: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मनुजः: a man
• मनुजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देवेन्द्रत्वम्: the status of Indra
• देवेन्द्रत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेन्द्रत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—देव + इन्द्र + त्व (तत्पुरुषः)

• समश्नुते: attains
• समश्नुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• गजेन: by Gaja
• गजेन: Karana (Agent/Instrument in passive sense/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• गवयेन: by Gavaya
• गवयेन: Karana (Agent/Instrument in passive sense/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गवय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• शरभेण: by Śarabha
• शरभेण: Karana (Agent/Instrument in passive sense/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• महौजसा: by the great-powerful (one)
• महौजसा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महौजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—महत् + ओजस् (कर्मधारयः)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa/Sūta (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setu tīrtha(s) founded by Gaja, Gavaya, Śarabha (collective)

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrimage-inquirer (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Setu bathing place where three founder-figures—Gaja, Gavaya, and the mighty Śarabha—are depicted as consecrators; above, a symbolic Indra motif (vajra, elephant Airāvata, or a radiant throne) indicates the promised fruit.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Gaja
• Gavaya
• Śarabha
• Setu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Tīrtha-snānā is presented as transformative, capable of elevating spiritual rank when aligned with dharma and sacred tradition.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A Setu-region tīrtha (contextual “here”), linked with founders named Gaja, Gavaya, and Śarabha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Snāna at the tīrtha, with the stated fruit of attaining devendratva (Indra-like status).