Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

यमस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा शंकरो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

yamasya vacanaṃ śrutvā śaṃkaro vākyamabravīt

Translation

Ayant entendu les paroles de Yama, Śaṅkara (Śiva) prit la parole en réponse.

Word by Word

• यमस्य: of Yama
• यमस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वचनम्: speech; statement
• वचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (Gerund/Absolutive)

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: a sentence; words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said; spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa tradition within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa; exact narrator not in snippet)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedārakṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Yama speaks; Śaṅkara, composed and radiant, prepares a decisive reply—two cosmic authorities in dialogue, framed by a sacred Himalayan atmosphere.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It marks a doctrinal turning point: Śiva’s response will clarify how dharma, merit, and devotion shape destiny beyond Yama’s jurisdiction.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra section context continues, but this verse is a narrative transition rather than a tīrtha praise.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a connective narrative line introducing Śiva’s teaching.