Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 129

Devanagari script

कालमार्गजयाद्वत्स महाकाला भिधश्चिरम् । करंधमोऽत्र राजर्षिरचिरादागमिष्यति

Transliteration

kālamārgajayādvatsa mahākālā bhidhaściram | karaṃdhamo'tra rājarṣiracirādāgamiṣyati

Translation

वत्स, काल के मार्ग को जीत लेने के कारण वह चिरकाल से ‘महाकाल’ नाम से प्रसिद्ध है। और यहाँ करंधम नामक राजर्षि भी शीघ्र ही आने वाले हैं।

Word by Word

• कालमार्गजयात्: from (the place/person called) Kālamārgajaya
• कालमार्गजयात्: अपादान (Source/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालमार्गजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन — Ablative singular; समासः (कालस्य मार्गस्य जयः इति)

• वत्स: dear child
• वत्स: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — Address

• महाकालः: Mahākāla
• महाकालः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; कर्मधारय (महान् कालः)

• अभिधः: named/called
• अभिधः: विशेषण (Qualifier of महाकालः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; नामवाचक (having the name)

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• करंधमः: Karaṃdhama
• करंधमः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करंधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular (proper name)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• राजर्षिः: royal sage
• राजर्षिः: सम्बन्ध/अपपद (Apposition to करंधमः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; तत्पुरुष (राजा च ऋषिः/राज्ञः ऋषिः)

• अचिरात्: soon
• अचिरात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial ablative) — soon/after not long

• आगमिष्यति: will arrive
• आगमिष्यति: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन — will come

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mahākāla-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: vatṣa (addressed ‘dear one’, likely a disciple/interlocutor within the story)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sage or deity addresses a disciple: the notion of ‘conquering Time’s path’ is visualized as a dark, cosmic corridor subdued by Śiva’s radiance; in the distance, a royal sage approaches the sacred precinct.

Characters & Entities

• Mahākāla
• Karaṃdhama (Rājarṣi)
• Kāla (Time)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva as Mahākāla transcends and masters Time; approaching him places one on a path beyond temporal fear and decay.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A Mahākāla-centered sacred locale is implied by the narrative; the verse sets up an incoming tīrtha-episode involving Karaṃdhama.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is prescribed; it introduces the theological epithet ‘Mahākāla’ and the forthcoming arrival of a royal sage.