Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 57

Devanagari script

यममार्गेऽपि विहितं स्वर्गलोकमिवापरम् । गतौ तत्र पुनश्चान्यैर्यमदूतैर्यमाज्ञया

Transliteration

yamamārge'pi vihitaṃ svargalokamivāparam | gatau tatra punaścānyairyamadūtairyamājñayā

Translation

Selbst auf dem Weg Yamas war es errichtet wie ein weiteres Himmelreich. Als sie jenen Ort abermals erreichten, zogen sie auf Yamas Geheiß mit anderen Boten Yamas weiter.

Word by Word

• यममार्गे: on the path of Yama
• यममार्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम-मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य मार्गः)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थः—‘even/also’

• विहितम्: arranged/appointed
• विहितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-धा (धातु) → विहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘arranged/appointed’

• स्वर्गलोकम्: the heaven-world
• स्वर्गलोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग-लोक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्गस्य लोकः)

• इव: like/as if
• इव: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• अपरम्: another
• अपरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘other/another’ (स्वर्गलोकम् इति विशेषणम्)

• गतौ: (the two) went/arrived
• गतौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘having gone/arrived’ (कर्तरि प्रयोगः)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्यैः: by other
• अन्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘by other’ (यमदूतैः इति विशेषणम्)

• यमदूतैः: by Yama’s messengers
• यमदूतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम-दूत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य दूताः)

• यमाज्ञया: by Yama’s command
• यमाज्ञया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम-आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य आज्ञा)

Speaker

Unspecified (Revā Khaṇḍa narrator; likely Sūta in the frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vast, dim cosmic roadway leading through a stern yet orderly realm; unexpectedly, a radiant ‘heaven-like’ station appears on the path, with Yama’s messengers regrouping under command.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamadūta

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma’s governance is portrayed as divinely ordered; even the route of judgment can appear heaven-like, underscoring the majesty of cosmic law.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No earthly site; the focus is Yama-mārga and Yama’s administration through his messengers.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse narrates movement under Yama’s command.