Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

अस्य तीर्थस्य विप्रेंद्राः कोट्यंशेनापि नो समाः । धर्मतीर्थमिति प्राहुस्तत्तीर्थं हि पुराविदः

Transliteration

asya tīrthasya vipreṃdrāḥ koṭyaṃśenāpi no samāḥ | dharmatīrthamiti prāhustattīrthaṃ hi purāvidaḥ

Translation

โอ้เหล่าวิปรินทระ ตีรถะอื่น ๆ ไม่อาจเสมอเทียมที่นี่ได้แม้เพียงเศษหนึ่งในสิบล้านส่วน บรรดาผู้รู้คัมภีร์โบราณจึงเรียกสถานศักดิ์สิทธิ์นั้นว่า ‘ธรรม-ตีรถะ’

Word by Word

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-शब्दः; षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• तीर्थस्य: of the pilgrimage place
• तीर्थस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• विप्रेन्द्राः: O lords among brahmins
• विप्रेन्द्राः: Sambodhana/Address (Vocative sense though nominative form used)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनम् (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विप्राणाम् इन्द्राः)

• कोट्यंशेन: by even a croreth part
• कोट्यंशेन: Karana (Instrument/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि + अंश (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम् (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कोट्याः अंशः)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (Particle)

• नः: of us/our
• नः: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-शब्दः; षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (6th/Genitive), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• समाः: equal
• समाः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनम् (Plural); विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicate)

• धर्मतीर्थम्: Dharma-tirtha (the sacred place of dharma)
• धर्मतीर्थम्: Karma (Object/predicate name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः (धर्मरूपं तीर्थम्)

• इति: thus
• इति: Quotation marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; उद्धरण-निपातः (Quotative particle)

• प्राहुः: they said/called
• प्राहुः: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम् (Plural); परस्मैपदम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-शब्दः; नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• तीर्थम्: pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Emphasis/Reason
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; हेत्वर्थ/अवधारण-निपातः (indeed/for)

• पुराविदः: knowers of ancient lore
• पुराविदः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरा + विद् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनम् (Plural); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (पुरा विदन्ति इति)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (contextual deduction)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharma-tīrtha

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Viprendrāḥ (foremost brāhmaṇas)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A formal proclamation scene: the speaker points toward the sacred ford as sages record/affirm the name ‘Dharma-tīrtha’; a radiant inscription-like aura hovers above the waters; other tīrthas appear faint in the background as diminished symbols.

Characters & Entities

• Dharma-tīrtha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is anchored in sacred geography: certain tīrthas are celebrated as uniquely powerful supports for righteousness and purification.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharma-tīrtha within the Setu region (Setukhaṇḍa), proclaimed incomparable among tīrthas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is newly described; the verse primarily confers name, status, and incomparable merit upon the tīrtha.