Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 8
अस्य तीर्थस्य विप्रेंद्राः कोट्यंशेनापि नो समाः । धर्मतीर्थमिति प्राहुस्तत्तीर्थं हि पुराविदः
asya tīrthasya vipreṃdrāḥ koṭyaṃśenāpi no samāḥ | dharmatīrthamiti prāhustattīrthaṃ hi purāvidaḥ
ഹേ വിപ്രേന്ദ്രന്മാരേ! മറ്റു തീർത്ഥങ്ങൾ ഈ തീർത്ഥത്തിന്റെ കോട്യാംശത്തേക്കും തുല്യമല്ല. അതുകൊണ്ട് പുരാവിദർ ആ പുണ്യക്ഷേത്രത്തെ ‘ധർമ്മതീർത്ഥം’ എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്നു।
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (contextual deduction)
Tirtha: Dharma-tīrtha
Type: kshetra
Listener: Viprendrāḥ (foremost brāhmaṇas)
Scene: A formal proclamation scene: the speaker points toward the sacred ford as sages record/affirm the name ‘Dharma-tīrtha’; a radiant inscription-like aura hovers above the waters; other tīrthas appear faint in the background as diminished symbols.
FAQs
Dharma is anchored in sacred geography: certain tīrthas are celebrated as uniquely powerful supports for righteousness and purification.
Dharma-tīrtha within the Setu region (Setukhaṇḍa), proclaimed incomparable among tīrthas.
No specific rite is newly described; the verse primarily confers name, status, and incomparable merit upon the tīrtha.