Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 23
Devanagari script
स रथी मृगयासक्तो गहनं दंशित श्चरन् । कमपि ज्वलनाकारं निजघान निशाचरम्
Transliteration
sa rathī mṛgayāsakto gahanaṃ daṃśita ścaran | kamapi jvalanākāraṃ nijaghāna niśācaram
Translation
രഥാരൂഢനായ ആ രാജാവ് വേട്ടയിൽ ആസക്തനായി ഘനവനത്തിൽ സഞ്ചരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, അഗ്നിപോലെ ജ്വലിക്കുന്ന രൂപമുള്ള ഏതോ നിശാചരനെ അവൻ വധിച്ചു.
Word by Word
सःhe
सः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (he)
रथीthe chariot-rider
रथी:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootरथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (charioteer/rider in a chariot)
मृगयासक्तःaddicted to hunting
मृगयासक्तः:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमृगया (प्रातिपदिक) + सक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
Formसमासः (तत्पुरुष): मृगयायां सक्तः; सक्त = सञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (attached to hunting)
गहनम्the deep forest
गहनम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootगहन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; (thicket/deep forest)
दंशितःstung/bitten
दंशितः:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदंश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (bitten/stung)
चरन्wandering
चरन्:
Kriya-visheshana (Concomitant action/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootचर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
Formवर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (while moving/wandering)
कम्someone
कम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootक (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; (whom/someone)
अपिeven
अपि:
Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअनिश्चितार्थ/समुच्चय अव्यय (even/also)
ज्वलनाकारम्fire-shaped
ज्वलनाकारम्:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासः (तत्पुरुष): ज्वलनस्य आकारः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; (having the form of fire)
निजघानstruck down
निजघान:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootनि-हन् (धातु)
Formलिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; (struck/killed)
निशाचरम्a night-roamer (demon)
निशाचरम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootनिशा (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासः (तत्पुरुष): निशायां चरति इति; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; (night-wanderer)
Speaker
Narrator (not specified in the excerpt; likely the Purāṇic narrator within Brāhma Khaṇḍa)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: In a dark forest, the king on chariot releases a decisive blow; before him stands a blazing, fire-like night-being—silhouette rimmed with flames; soldiers recoil in fear.
Characters & Entities
R
rathī (chariot-warrior)N
niśācara (night-roamer/rākṣasa)FAQs
Worldly pursuits can lead to unintended confrontations with hidden forces; Purāṇas frame such moments as tests of discernment and dharma.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the setting is a dense forest.
None is stated.