Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

स रथी मृगयासक्तो गहनं दंशित श्चरन् । कमपि ज्वलनाकारं निजघान निशाचरम्

Transliteration

sa rathī mṛgayāsakto gahanaṃ daṃśita ścaran | kamapi jvalanākāraṃ nijaghāna niśācaram

Translation

That charioteer-king, engrossed in hunting, roamed through the dense wilds—then struck down some night-roaming being, blazing as if made of fire.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (he)

• रथी: the chariot-rider
• रथी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (charioteer/rider in a chariot)

• मृगयासक्तः: addicted to hunting
• मृगयासक्तः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृगया (प्रातिपदिक) + सक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष): मृगयायां सक्तः; सक्त = सञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (attached to hunting)

• गहनम्: the deep forest
• गहनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; (thicket/deep forest)

• दंशितः: stung/bitten
• दंशितः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दंश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (bitten/stung)

• चरन्: wandering
• चरन्: Kriya-visheshana (Concomitant action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (while moving/wandering)

• कम्: someone
• कम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; (whom/someone)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चितार्थ/समुच्चय अव्यय (even/also)

• ज्वलनाकारम्: fire-shaped
• ज्वलनाकारम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष): ज्वलनस्य आकारः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; (having the form of fire)

• निजघान: struck down
• निजघान: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; (struck/killed)

• निशाचरम्: a night-roamer (demon)
• निशाचरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष): निशायां चरति इति; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; (night-wanderer)

Speaker

Narrator (not specified in the excerpt; likely the Purāṇic narrator within Brāhma Khaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In a dark forest, the king on chariot releases a decisive blow; before him stands a blazing, fire-like night-being—silhouette rimmed with flames; soldiers recoil in fear.

Characters & Entities

• rathī (chariot-warrior)
• niśācara (night-roamer/rākṣasa)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Worldly pursuits can lead to unintended confrontations with hidden forces; Purāṇas frame such moments as tests of discernment and dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the setting is a dense forest.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None is stated.