Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

मृत्युं च पृष्ठतः कृत्वा रणभूमौ गतव्यथाः । शस्त्राशस्त्रैर्भिन्नगात्राः प्रशस्ता नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

mṛtyuṃ ca pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā raṇabhūmau gatavyathāḥ | śastrāśastrairbhinnagātrāḥ praśastā nātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

„Den Tod im Rücken, schreiten sie ohne Gram auf das Schlachtfeld; selbst wenn ihre Glieder von Waffen und Geschossen zerrissen werden, werden sie gepriesen—daran besteht kein Zweifel.“

Word by Word

• मृत्युम्: death
• मृत्युम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पृष्ठतः: behind
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb; ‘from behind/at the back’)

• कृत्वा: having made/placing
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) + कृत्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• रणभूमौ: on the battlefield
• रणभूमौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रणस्य भूमिः)

• गतव्यथाः: whose fear/pain has gone; untroubled
• गतव्यथाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत + व्यथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (येषां व्यथा गता)

• शस्त्राशस्त्रैः: by weapons and non-weapons
• शस्त्राशस्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र + अशस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• भिन्नगात्राः: with limbs torn/wounded
• भिन्नगात्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (भिन्नानि गात्राणि येषाम्)

• प्रशस्ताः: praiseworthy
• प्रशस्ताः: Karta (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण/विधेय

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb; ‘here’)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Vīrabhadra

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Warriors advance with resolute faces, as if death trails behind them; arrows and weapons strike, yet their posture remains unwavering; a solemn glory surrounds their sacrifice.

Characters & Entities

• Vīrabhadra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Fearlessness arises from confronting mortality; yet the broader Purāṇic dharma also requires that courage be aligned with righteous purpose.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedārakhaṇḍa’s larger canvas is the Kedāra tīrtha-region; this verse emphasizes warrior ethos rather than a direct tīrtha praise.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.