Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

निजकर्मानुबंधेन राजपुत्रं गतायुषम् । प्रहर्तुमुद्यते मृत्यौ कोपराधो वद प्रभो

Transliteration

nijakarmānubaṃdhena rājaputraṃ gatāyuṣam | prahartumudyate mṛtyau koparādho vada prabho

Translation

“Bound by his own karma, Death is prepared to strike the prince whose lifespan is spent. Tell me, O Lord—what is the offense that warrants your anger?”

Word by Word

• निजकर्मानुबंधेन: by the connection of one’s own karma
• निजकर्मानुबंधेन: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause/करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज + कर्म + अनुबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतु/निमित्तार्थे (by reason of)

• राजपुत्रम्: the prince
• राजपुत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गतायुषम्: whose lifespan has ended
• गतायुषम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (गम् धातु + क्त) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying rājaputram)

• प्रहर्तुम्: to strike/kill
• प्रहर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + हृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), कर्मार्थक (purpose)

• उद्यते: is ready/endeavors
• उद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मृत्यौ: in the matter of death
• मृत्यौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कोपराधः: the cause of (your) anger
• कोपराधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप + राध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘कोपस्य राधः/कारणम्’ इत्यर्थे (cause of anger)

• वद: tell
• वद: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Yama

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mahārudra/Vīrabhadra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Yama, composed and authoritative, explains that Death moves to strike only when the prince’s allotted lifespan is exhausted, and asks what specific offense could justify divine anger.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Mṛtyu
• Prince (rājaputra)
• Prabhu (addressed to Śiva/Vīrabhadra contextually)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Karma governs embodied life, and death is depicted as the lawful consequence when lifespan is exhausted—yet higher divine purpose may still be revealed.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it emphasizes karmic causality rather than a rite.