Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 44
ब्रह्मोवाच । यथा स्नानं ब्रह्मज्ञानं देहत्यागो गयातले । धर्मारण्ये तथा दैत्य धर्म्मेश्वरपुरः स्थिते
brahmovāca | yathā snānaṃ brahmajñānaṃ dehatyāgo gayātale | dharmāraṇye tathā daitya dharmmeśvarapuraḥ sthite
பிரம்மா கூறினார்—கயாதலத்தில் ஸ்நானம், பிரம்மஞானம், உடல் துறத்தல் எவ்வாறு மிகப் பயனளிப்பவையோ, அவ்வாறே ஓ தைத்தியனே, தர்ம்மேஸ்வரபுரத்தின் முன்னிலையில் உள்ள தர்மாரண்யத்திலும் (விதிகள்) அத்தகையவையே।
Brahmā
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya (near Dharmmeśvara-pura)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Lohāsura (Daitya)
Scene: Brahmā speaks authoritatively, gesturing toward a forest-kṣetra with a Śiva shrine (Dharmmeśvara-pura). In the background, pilgrims bathe; a subtle vision of Gayā appears as a comparative sacred silhouette.
FAQs
A tīrtha’s greatness is measured by transformative outcomes—purification, higher knowledge, and final merit—comparable to famed places like Gayā.
Dharmāraṇya, specifically the sacred precinct “in front of/at” Dharmmeśvara-pura, is exalted; Gayā is used as the benchmark.
Tīrtha-bathing (snāna) is implied; the verse also frames the site as potent for brahmajñāna and for attaining merit at the time of death.