Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

एकदा यमुनां तर्तुं स राजतनयो बली । आरुरोह तरीं कैश्चिद्वयस्यैः सह लीलया

Transliteration

ekadā yamunāṃ tartuṃ sa rājatanayo balī | āruroha tarīṃ kaiścidvayasyaiḥ saha līlayā

Translation

ഒരിക്കൽ ആ ബലവാനായ രാജകുമാരൻ യമുന കടക്കാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു, തന്റെ സമപ്രായക്കാരായ ചില കൂട്ടുകാരോടൊപ്പം ലീലാഭാവത്തിൽ വള്ളത്തിൽ കയറി।

Word by Word

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb: once)

• यमुनाम्: the Yamunā river
• यमुनाम्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• तर्तुम्: to cross
• तर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), ‘to cross’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• राजतनयः: the king’s son
• राजतनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राज्ञः तनयः)

• बली: strong
• बली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of सः/राजतनयः)

• आरुरोह: mounted/boarded
• आरुरोह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• तरीम्: a boat
• तरीम्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• कैश्चित्: with some
• कैश्चित्: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite: by some)

• वयस्यैः: companions/friends
• वयस्यैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• सह: with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक-उपपद (postposition: with)

• लीलया: playfully/for sport
• लीलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; भावे (manner)

Speaker

Narrator (context not provided; likely Purāṇic narrator within Brāhma Khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Yamunā (Kālindī)

Type: river

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A youthful prince with companions boards a small boat on the Yamunā; the river is wide with gentle ripples; trees and ghāṭ-like steps on the bank; mood initially playful, hinting at impending danger.

Characters & Entities

• Yamunā
• Prince (rāja-tanaya)
• Companions (vayasya)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Seemingly playful actions can become turning points under the hidden workings of destiny (daiva).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Yamunā is named; while revered as a sacred river, no specific tīrtha-ghāṭa is specified in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse narrates travel across a sacred river.