Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 129

Devanagari script

कालमार्गजयाद्वत्स महाकाला भिधश्चिरम् । करंधमोऽत्र राजर्षिरचिरादागमिष्यति

Transliteration

kālamārgajayādvatsa mahākālā bhidhaściram | karaṃdhamo'tra rājarṣiracirādāgamiṣyati

Translation

Wahai anak terkasih, karena ia menaklukkan jalan Waktu (Kāla), sejak lama ia termasyhur dengan nama ‘Mahākāla’. Dan di sini sang raja-ṛṣi Karaṃdhama akan segera datang.

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.