Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

महानंदमयं दिव्यं पावनात्पावनं परम् । कलकंठः कलोत्कंठमनुगुंजति कुंजगः

Transliteration

mahānaṃdamayaṃ divyaṃ pāvanātpāvanaṃ param | kalakaṃṭhaḥ kalotkaṃṭhamanuguṃjati kuṃjagaḥ

Translation

ആ ദിവ്യസ്ഥലം മഹാനന്ദമയമാണ്—പാവനത്തേക്കാളും പരമപാവനം. അവിടെ കുഞ്ജങ്ങളിൽ വസിക്കുന്ന കുയിൽ മധുരമായി, ഉത്സുകനാദം മുഴക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• महानन्दमयम्: filled with great bliss
• महानन्दमयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महानन्द + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (महानन्देन मयम् = full of great bliss); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पावनात्: from the purifier
• पावनात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• पावनम्: purifying/purer
• पावनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कलकण्ठः: the cuckoo (sweet-throated one)
• कलकण्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (कलः कण्ठः यस्य/कलकण्ठः = sweet-throated; नामविशेषः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• कलोत्कण्ठम्: sweet yearning (song/longing)
• कलोत्कण्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल + उत्कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (कलम् उत्कण्ठम् = sweet longing/ardour); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• अनुगुञ्जति: hums/warbles
• अनुगुञ्जति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु+गुञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• कुञ्जगः: the grove-dweller (bird)
• कुञ्जगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्जग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; (कुञ्जे गच्छति इति व्युत्पत्त्या)

Speaker

Narrator/teacher voice (contextual speaker not explicit in this verse; within Dharmāraṇya Māhātmya narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant sacred grove suffused with calm light; a cuckoo perched amid dense foliage sings; the atmosphere feels blissful and purifying, with a faint divine aura over the landscape.

Characters & Entities

• Dharmāraṇya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A true tīrtha is experienced as bliss and purification, even through its natural sounds and atmosphere.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya, portrayed as supremely purifying and divinely blissful.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse emphasizes the kṣetra’s inherent sanctity and auspicious ambience.