Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 23
Devanagari script
अश्वमेधं विना किंचित्स्वर्गं भोक्तं न पार्यते
Transliteration
aśvamedhaṃ vinā kiṃcitsvargaṃ bhoktaṃ na pāryate
Translation
Sans l’Aśvamedha, nul ne peut atteindre ni goûter le ciel, fût-ce en la moindre mesure.
Word by Word
aśvamedhamAśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)
aśvamedham:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootaśvamedha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन
vināwithout
vinā:
Apadana (Separation/अपादान)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvinā (अव्यय)
Formअपादानार्थक अव्यय/उपपद (preposition-like indeclinable governing accusative: ‘without’)
kiṃcitanything/at all
kiṃcit:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial: ‘at all’)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite)
svargamheaven
svargam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsvarga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
bhoktumto enjoy
bhoktum:
Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
TypeVerb
Root√bhuj (धातु)
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive (भावे), ‘to enjoy’
nanot
na:
Sambandha (Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधबोधक अव्यय (negation)
pāryateis possible
pāryate:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√pṛ (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/शक्यर्थे प्रयोगः (‘is possible/can be done’)
Speaker
Uśanā (Śukra) (continuing counsel)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A terse, emphatic pronouncement: without Aśvamedha, svarga cannot be enjoyed—visualized as a closed celestial gate with yajña-symbol as key.
Characters & Entities
A
AśvamedhaS
SvargaFAQs
Desired enjoyments are depicted as dependent on prescribed dharmic means; ends are not separated from rightful discipline.
No tīrtha is referenced; the focus is on sacrificial qualification.
Aśvamedha is asserted as the necessary rite for attaining svarga (in this narrative frame).