Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 128

Devanagari script

गुप्तक्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यं सकलं श्रावयेद्यदि । सर्वैश्वर्यमवाप्नोति ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति

Transliteration

guptakṣetrasya māhātmyaṃ sakalaṃ śrāvayedyadi | sarvaiśvaryamavāpnoti brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati

Translation

ഗുപ്തക്ഷേത്രത്തിന്റെ സമ്പൂർണ്ണ മഹാത്മ്യം മറ്റുള്ളവർ കേൾക്കുമാറ് പാരായണം ചെയ്യിക്കുന്നവൻ സർവൈശ്വര്യവും പ്രാപിക്കുകയും ബ്രഹ്മഹത്യാപാപവും നീക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു.

Word by Word

• gupta-kṣetrasya: of the secret sacred place
• gupta-kṣetrasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gupta (कृदन्त/भूतकृदन्त from √gup गोपने) + kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (गुप्तं क्षेत्रम्)

• māhātmyam: the greatness (glory)
• māhātmyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• sakalam: entire, complete
• sakalam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (māhātmyam)

• śrāvayet: should cause (others) to hear / recite to
• śrāvayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु श्रवणे) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Condition marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; शर्तसूचक (conditional particle)

• sarva-aiśvaryam: all prosperity/sovereignty
• sarva-aiśvaryam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वम् ऐश्वर्यम्)

• avāpnoti: attains
• avāpnoti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√āp (आप् प्राप्तौ)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचन

• brahma-hatyām: Brahmin-slaying (sin)
• brahma-hatyām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः हत्या)

• vyapohati: removes, dispels
• vyapohati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-apa-√uh (ऊह्/उह् अपोहन-चिन्तने; here ‘remove’)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing sages/brāhmaṇas

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Guptakṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A learned paurāṇika recites the Guptakṣetra-māhātmya to an attentive assembly; the ‘hidden kṣetra’ is suggested by veiled shrines, forested paths, and a subtle Śiva-liṅga presence; a radiant aura signifies brahma-hatyā-kṣaya and aiśvarya.

Characters & Entities

• Guptakṣetra
• Brahmahatyā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Kṣetra-māhātmya recitation is portrayed as exceptionally potent—granting prosperity and cleansing even grave sins.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Guptakṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Sakala-māhātmya śrāvaṇa/śrāvayati: arranging the full māhātmya to be heard (formal reading/recitation).