Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 105

Devanagari script

शक्नुवंति परित्रातुं नरं कालेन पीडितम् । रसायनतपोजप्यैर्योगसिद्धैर्महात्मभिः

Transliteration

śaknuvaṃti paritrātuṃ naraṃ kālena pīḍitam | rasāyanatapojapyairyogasiddhairmahātmabhiḥ

Translation

Nur große Seelen, die im Yoga vollendet sind—durch verjüngende Übung (rasāyana), Tapas und unablässiges Japa—vermögen einen Menschen zu schützen, den der Druck der Zeit bedrängt.

Word by Word

• शक्नुवन्ति: are able
• शक्नुवन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; रूपम्: शक्नुवन्ति

• परित्रातुम्: to save
• परित्रातुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√त्रा (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); 'to protect/save'

• नरम्: a man
• नरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• पीडितम्: afflicted
• पीडितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पीड् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; कर्मणि

• रसायनतपोजप्यैः: by rejuvenatives, austerities, and japa-practices
• रसायनतपोजप्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसायन (प्रातिपदिक) + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + जप्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √जप् + यत्/ण्यत्, 'to be muttered')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (रसायन-तपः-जप्यानि) तृतीया-बहुवचन; करण

• योगसिद्धैः: by those perfected through yoga
• योगसिद्धैः: Karana (Instrument/Agentive association/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्ध (कृदन्त; √सिध् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (योगेन सिद्धाः)

• महात्मभिः: by great-souled ones
• महात्मभिः: Karana (Instrument/Agent/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण/सहकारक

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant yogi-mahātman in meditation, surrounded by symbols of rasāyana (herbs, elixirs), japa-mālā, and tapas (austerity fire); a faint Kāla-force presses like a dark wave, held at bay by yogic brilliance.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Exceptional yogic attainment is portrayed as the only force that can temporarily counter Time’s affliction, highlighting the supremacy of spiritual discipline over ordinary means.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific place is praised in this verse; it is a doctrinal statement within the chapter’s teaching.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Japa and tapas are referenced as disciplines associated with yogic perfection; no specific mantra, count, or vow is specified.