Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 69

Devanagari script

अतिस्वछतरं शीतं गंगोदकसमप्रभम् । पवित्रं मधुरं स्वादु जलं तस्य नृपोत्तम

Transliteration

atisvachataraṃ śītaṃ gaṃgodakasamaprabham | pavitraṃ madhuraṃ svādu jalaṃ tasya nṛpottama

Translation

ข้าแต่มหาราชผู้ประเสริฐ น้ำของสระนั้นใสยิ่งและเย็นฉ่ำ มีรัศมีดุจน้ำพระคงคา บริสุทธิ์ หวาน และรสดีชวนดื่ม

Word by Word

• अतिस्वच्छतरम्: very clear (comparatively clearer)
• अतिस्वच्छतरम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + स्वच्छतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अति’ उपपद-पूर्वक तीव्रतार्थ (very)

• शीतम्: cool
• शीतम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गंगोदकसमप्रभम्: having a luster like Gaṅgā-water
• गंगोदकसमप्रभम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गङ्गा + उदक + सम + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (गङ्गोदकस्य समा प्रभा यस्य तत्)

• पवित्रम्: pure
• पवित्रम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मधुरम्: sweet
• मधुरम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्वादु: tasty, pleasant
• स्वादु: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वादु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययवत् अपि प्रयोगः, अत्र विशेषणम्

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of it
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंस/पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नृपोत्तम: O best of kings
• नृपोत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नृपाणाम् उत्तमः)

Speaker

Vyāsa (continuing)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Unnamed saras/tīrtha in Dharmāraṇyaka

Type: kund

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close view of crystalline, cool lake water with a luminous sheen; pilgrims cupping water; ripples reflecting light like Gaṅgā; lotuses and clear pebbled shallows emphasizing transparency.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred geography is marked by purifying waters—outer purity supports inner purification.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Dharmāraṇya sarovara whose water is compared to Gaṅgā’s sanctity and brilliance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicitly supports snāna (ritual bathing) by emphasizing the water’s purity; explicit rites appear later.