Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

नातः परं पावनं हि पापिनां प्राणिनां भुवि । स्वर्ग्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं वांछितार्थप्रदं शुभम्

Transliteration

nātaḥ paraṃ pāvanaṃ hi pāpināṃ prāṇināṃ bhuvi | svargyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ vāṃchitārthapradaṃ śubham

Translation

ഭൂമിയിലെ പാപികളായ ജീവികൾക്ക് ഇതിലധികം പാവനമൊന്നുമില്ല. ഇത് സ്വർഗ്ഗം, യശസ്, ദീർഘായുസ്സ്, ഇഷ്ടസിദ്ധി, മംഗളം എന്നിവ നൽകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation particle)

• अतः: than this/from this
• अतः: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/हेतुवाचक-अर्थे (from this/than this)

• परम्: higher/greater
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पावनम् इति)

• पावनम्: a purifier/purifying thing
• पावनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक; √पू (धातु) से णिच्/भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed/for)

• पापिनाम्: of sinners
• पापिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• प्राणिनाम्: of living beings
• प्राणिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• भुवि: on earth/in the world
• भुवि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• स्वर्ग्यम्: heavenly; leading to heaven
• स्वर्ग्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पावनम्/तत् इति)

• यशस्यम्: fame-giving
• यशस्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• आयुष्यम्: life-promoting
• आयुष्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वाञ्छितार्थप्रदम्: granting desired aims
• वाञ्छितार्थप्रदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाञ्छित + अर्थ + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक; √दा (धातु) से प्रद/प्रद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वाञ्छितस्य अर्थस्य प्रदम्)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Vasiṣṭha (contextual)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant inscription-like proclamation over the forest-kṣetra; devotees receive symbolic gifts—garlands for fame, a long lamp-flame for longevity, a stairway of light for heaven—while the tīrtha glows.

Characters & Entities

• Dharmāraṇya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A truly great tīrtha is depicted as transforming both destiny (svarga) and character (purification), aligning human aims with auspicious dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya (implied as ‘this’ supreme purifier throughout the passage).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit prescription; the verse summarizes promised fruits (phala) of connection with the place.