शिव उवाच । शृणुष्वैकाग्रमनसा येनाहं व्यग्रचेतसः । अस्ति स्थानं महापुण्यं धर्म्मारण्यं च भूतले
śiva uvāca | śṛṇuṣvaikāgramanasā yenāhaṃ vyagracetasaḥ | asti sthānaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ dharmmāraṇyaṃ ca bhūtale
சிவன் கூறினார்—ஒருமுக மனத்துடன் கேள்; என் உள்ளம் ஆவலால் கலங்குகிறது. பூமியில் மிகப் புண்ணியமான திருத்தலம் ஒன்று உள்ளது—தர்மாரண்யம் எனும் புனித வனம்।
Śiva
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya
Type: kshetra
Listener: Skanda (Ṣaḍānana)
Scene: Śiva, serene yet eager, addresses Skanda in a sacred grove; the ‘Dharmāraṇya’ is suggested by ancient trees, tīrtha markers, and a luminous atmosphere indicating hidden merit.
Single-pointed listening and reverence toward sacred geography lead the seeker toward dharma and merit (puṇya).
Dharmāraṇya, introduced as a supremely meritorious sacred place on earth.
No specific rite is prescribed here; the instruction is to listen attentively as the māhātmya begins.