धर्मारण्य

{ dharmāraṇya(m), dharmāraṇya }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

DHARMĀRAṆYA   A Brahmin. He had many children. The major portion of his life was spent in hard work to support his large family. After that he went in search of means to attain heaven. In his quest, he happened to reach the realm of Nāgas (serpents). He entered the house of a Nāga named Padmanābha. When he reached the house Padmanābha had been away carrying the chariot of the Sun. Dharmāraṇya sat outside the house and spent a few days in vow and meditation. Then Padmanābha returned. The Brāhmaṇa asked Padmanābha about the ways of attaining heaven. The Nāga replied that there was none superior to the Sun. The Brahmin accepted penance and lived in the hermitage of Cyavana for a few days. [M.B. Śānti Parva, 4 Chapters from 361] .
DHARMĀRAṆYA(M)   A forest which is a holy place. It is mentioned in [Mahābhārata, Vana Parva Chapter 82 Stanza 46] , that the moment one enters this forest one would become sinless. This place was once the capital of the King named Asūtarajasa. (See under Kuśa I).

प्राचीन चरित्रकोश

धर्मारण्य n.  एक ब्राह्मण [म.शां.३४९.५] । पद्मनाभ नामक नाग से इसने अध्यात्मविद्या प्राप्त की तथा उसके कारण यह कृतार्थ हो गया ।

A Sanskrit English Dictionary

धर्मारण्य  n.  n. ‘grove of religion’, sacred g° or wood, [Śak.]
    N. of a sacred forest in मध्य-देश, [Var.]; [MBh.]
   of a town founded by अमूर्त-रजस्, [R.]
    N. of wk.