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
برہما نے کہا: جس طرح گیا کے مقام پر اشنان، برہمن کا ادراک، اور حتیٰ کہ دےہ کا تیاگ نہایت مؤثر ہے، اسی طرح اے دَیتیہ! دھرم آरणیہ میں دھرمّیشور پُر کے حضور انجام دیے گئے کرم بھی عظیم پھل دیتے ہیں۔
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.