Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

मुक्तिद्वारमिदं पश्य स्वर्गप्राप्तिकरं नृणाम् । स्वर्गद्वारमिति ख्यातं तस्मात्तीर्थमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

muktidvāramidaṃ paśya svargaprāptikaraṃ nṛṇām | svargadvāramiti khyātaṃ tasmāttīrthamanuttamam

Translation

ଏହି ‘ମୁକ୍ତିଦ୍ୱାର’କୁ ଦେଖ; ଏହା ମନୁଷ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ୱର୍ଗପ୍ରାପ୍ତି କରାଏ। ଏହା ‘ସ୍ୱର୍ଗଦ୍ୱାର’ ନାମେ ଖ୍ୟାତ; ତେଣୁ ଏହି ତୀର୍ଥ ଅନୁତ୍ତମ।

Word by Word

• muktidvāram: gate of liberation
• muktidvāram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukti (प्रातिपदिक) + dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular); समासः: मुक्तेः द्वारम् (gate to liberation)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular)

• paśya: see; behold
• paśya: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paś (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• svargaprāptikaram: causing attainment of heaven
• svargaprāptikaram: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक) + prāpti (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular); समासः: स्वर्गप्राप्तिं करोति इति (that which causes attainment of heaven)

• nṛṇām: of men; of people
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• svargadvāram: (it is) the gate of heaven
• svargadvāram: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक) + dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (singular); समासः: स्वर्गस्य द्वारम् (gate of heaven)

• iti: thus; as
• iti: Marker (इति-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (quotative particle)

• khyātam: is known/called
• khyātam: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: khyā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (known/called)

• tasmāt: therefore; from that
• tasmāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम् (singular)

• tīrtham: holy place; ford
• tīrtham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (singular)

• anuttamam: unsurpassed; supreme
• anuttamam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (singular)

Speaker

Brahmā (deduced; Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa dialogue style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Svargadvāra (also called Muktidvāra)

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: null

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A visionary ‘gate’ motif at the ghat: an archway inscribed ‘Muktidvāra’ and ‘Svargadvāra’; pilgrims gaze (paśya) with folded hands; above the arch, two paths are symbolized—one to svarga (celestial city) and one to mokṣa (formless light).

Characters & Entities

• Svargadvāra
• Muktidvāra
• Ayodhyā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A tīrtha can function as a ‘gateway’—bestowing elevated post-death destinies and even liberation through its sanctity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Svargadvāra, also described as Muktidvāra, within Ayodhyā.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No single rite is specified; the verse highlights the intrinsic spiritual efficacy of the tīrtha.