Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

रथा रथियुता ह्यासन्कृत्रिमा ह्यकृतोपमाः । सर्वेषां मोहनार्थाय तथा च संसदः कृताः

Transliteration

rathā rathiyutā hyāsankṛtrimā hyakṛtopamāḥ | sarveṣāṃ mohanārthāya tathā ca saṃsadaḥ kṛtāḥ

Translation

Il y avait des chars avec leurs auriges — façonnés avec art, et pourtant sans égal parmi les œuvres humaines. Et pour charmer et émerveiller tous, on avait aussi créé des assemblées, telles des cours royales.

Word by Word

• रथाः: chariots
• रथाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• रथियुताः: with charioteers
• रथियुताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथि (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (रथिभिः युताः/रथियुताः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कृत्रिमाः: artificial
• कृत्रिमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्रिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• अकृतोपमाः: incomparable
• अकृतोपमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + कृत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + उपमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• मोहनार्थाय: for enchantment/delusion
• मोहनार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहन (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद (मोहनस्य अर्थः); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• संसदः: assemblies/councils
• संसदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• कृताः: were made
• कृताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (संसदः इति स्त्रीबहुवचनानुसार)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) speaking to the sages (contextual attribution within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra / Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Chariots with charioteers stand in splendid array, crafted beyond ordinary art; nearby, formal assemblies/courts are arranged to enchant and delight all who enter the sacred space.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine splendor is portrayed as surpassing human artistry, drawing the mind toward reverence for sacred space and the Lord’s presence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra/Kedārakṣetra in the Himalayan sacred landscape, as presented in the Kedārakhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it is descriptive, emphasizing the wondrous construction and atmosphere of the sacred setting.