Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

उद्धरस्व महास्थानं महतीं कीर्तिमाप्नुहि

Transliteration

uddharasva mahāsthānaṃ mahatīṃ kīrtimāpnuhi

Translation

ഈ മഹാപുണ്യമായ മഹാസ്ഥാനം പുനരുദ്ധരിക്ക; അങ്ങനെ നീ മഹത്തായും ദീർഘകാലവും നിലനിൽക്കുന്ന കീർത്തി പ്രാപിക്കും।

Word by Word

• उद्धरस्व: lift up; raise; restore
• उद्धरस्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√हृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपद

• महास्थानम्: the great place/seat
• महास्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• महतीम्: great
• महतीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• कीर्तिम्: fame
• कीर्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• आप्नुहि: attain
• आप्नुहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपद

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual exhortation within Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa narrative)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya Mahāsthāna

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A commanding injunction to restore a great sacred seat; the speaker gestures toward an ancient, timeworn shrine/seat amid a forest-kshetra, promising enduring renown to the restorer.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Serving and restoring a sacred place is a dharmic act that yields lasting merit and honorable renown.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A “mahāsthāna” within the Dharmāraṇya context; the verse praises the sanctity of the Dharmāraṇya sacred region.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Jīrṇoddhāra (restoration/repair of an ancient sacred site) is implicitly prescribed.