Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

अष्टाविंशतिभेदांस्ते नरकान्नोपभुंजते । तामिस्रमंधतामिस्रं महारौरवरौरवौ

Transliteration

aṣṭāviṃśatibhedāṃste narakānnopabhuṃjate | tāmisramaṃdhatāmisraṃ mahārauravarauravau

Translation

അവർ ഇരുപത്തെട്ട് തരത്തിലുള്ള നരകങ്ങൾ അനുഭവിക്കുകയില്ല—താമിസ്രം, അന്ധതാമിസ്രം, മഹാരൗരവം, റൗരവം മുതലായവ।

Word by Word

• अष्टाविंशतिभेदान्: the twenty-eight kinds (divisions)
• अष्टाविंशतिभेदान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टाविंशति + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अष्टाविंशतेः भेदाः)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• नरकान्: hells
• नरकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Kriya-nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• उपभुञ्जते: they experience/suffer
• उपभुञ्जते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• तामिस्रम्: Tāmisra (a hell)
• तामिस्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तामिस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नरक-नाम

• अन्धतामिस्रम्: Andhatāmisra (a hell)
• अन्धतामिस्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्ध + तामिस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः

• महारौरवः: Mahāraurava (a hell)
• महारौरवः: Karma (Listed item/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः; नरक-नाम

• रौरवः: Raurava (a hell)
• रौरवः: Karma (Listed item/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नरक-नाम

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dhanuṣkoṭi

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Naimiṣāraṇya sages (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contrast tableau: dark, cavernous hell realms labeled Tāmisra/Andhatāmisra/Raurava/Mahāraurava fade away as a radiant vision of Dhanuṣkoṭi’s shore and bathing pilgrims appears, symbolizing deliverance.

Characters & Entities

• Dhanuṣkoṭi
• Tāmisra
• Andhatāmisra
• Mahāraurava
• Raurava

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Tīrtha-merit is portrayed as protective and redemptive, neutralizing severe karmic consequences.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dhanuṣkoṭi, whose merit is said to prevent experience of various hells.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implied continuation of the previous verse: remembrance/visit/bathing/narration connected with Dhanuṣkoṭi.