Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 59

Devanagari script

वायुवेगेन सहसा ययौ यमरथं प्रति । पदातिः स रथं तं च समारुह्य यमं तदा

Transliteration

vāyuvegena sahasā yayau yamarathaṃ prati | padātiḥ sa rathaṃ taṃ ca samāruhya yamaṃ tadā

Translation

With the speed of the wind he suddenly rushed toward Yama’s chariot; though on foot, he mounted that chariot and pressed upon Yama then.

Word by Word

• वायु-वेगेन: with the speed of the wind
• वायु-वेगेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वायोः वेगः)

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यम-रथम्: Yama's chariot
• यम-रथम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य रथः)

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Direction/Goal (प्रति-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/निपात (preposition-like particle)

• पदातिः: the foot-soldier (on foot)
• पदातिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

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

• रथम्: the chariot
• रथम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• समारुह्य: having mounted
• समारुह्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having mounted)

• यमम्: Yama
• यमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced: Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narration to sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A wind-swift warrior (Grasana) rushes on foot and vaults onto Yama’s chariot, closing distance instantly; Yama stands poised with regal severity, chariot emblazoned with dharma symbols, horses rearing.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamaratha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Reckless audacity drives one to challenge even Yama; Purāṇas portray such overreach as spiritually perilous.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.