Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

लिखित्वा तीर्थमाहात्म्यं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददाति यः । जातिस्मरत्वं लभते प्राप्नोत्यभिमतं फलम्

Transliteration

likhitvā tīrthamāhātmyaṃ brāhmaṇebhyo dadāti yaḥ | jātismaratvaṃ labhate prāpnotyabhimataṃ phalam

Translation

Quem escreve este tīrtha-māhātmya e o oferece aos brāhmaṇas alcança a lembrança de nascimentos passados e obtém o fruto desejado.

Word by Word

• लिखित्वा: having written
• लिखित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• तीर्थमाहात्म्यम्: the greatness of the sacred place
• तीर्थमाहात्म्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: to the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• जातिस्मरत्वम्: the ability to remember past births
• जातिस्मरत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति + स्मरत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राप्नोति: attains
• प्राप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अभिमतम्: desired
• अभिमतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + मत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-tīrtha-māhātmya (text as sacred object)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee carefully writing a manuscript of the tīrtha-māhātmya on palm leaves/birch bark, then offering it respectfully to a Brāhmaṇa; a subtle aura suggests awakening of past-life memory.

Characters & Entities

• Tīrtha-māhātmya
• Brāhmaṇa
• Dāna (gifting)
• Jātismaratva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Preserving and gifting sacred literature is treated as a high form of dāna that yields refined spiritual capacities and chosen blessings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Revā Khaṇḍa tīrtha whose māhātmya is being copied and donated.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Likhana (writing/copying) of the māhātmya and dāna (donation) of it to Brāhmaṇas.