Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 161

Devanagari script

रथं मातलिना युक्तं तप्तहेमपरिष्कृतम् । चतुर्योजनविस्तीर्णं सिद्धसंघपरिष्कृतम्

Transliteration

rathaṃ mātalinā yuktaṃ taptahemapariṣkṛtam | caturyojanavistīrṇaṃ siddhasaṃghapariṣkṛtam

Translation

മാതലിയാൽ യുക്തമായ ആ രഥം തപ്ത ശുദ്ധസ്വർണ്ണംകൊണ്ട് അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു. നാലു യോജന വ്യാപ്തിയോടെ, സിദ്ധസംഘങ്ങളാൽ ശോഭിതവും സേവിതവും ആയി അതി ഭവ്യമായിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मातलिना: by Mātali
• मातलिना: Karaṇa (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/कर्तृकरण (agent in instrumental)

• युक्तम्: yoked/arranged
• युक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘रथम्’ विशेषण

• तप्त-हेम-परिष्कृतम्: adorned with refined gold
• तप्त-हेम-परिष्कृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + हेम (प्रातिपदिक) + परि + कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (adorned with heated/refined gold)

• चतुर्-योजन-विस्तीर्णम्: spread over four yojanas
• चतुर्-योजन-विस्तीर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (चतुर्योजनम् प्रमाणम् यस्य)

• सिद्ध-संघ-परिष्कृतम्: adorned by hosts of Siddhas
• सिद्ध-संघ-परिष्कृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + संघ (प्रातिपदिक) + परि + कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (adorned by the assembly of Siddhas)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra’s immense chariot, yoked by Mātali, gleaming with heated refined gold, four yojanas wide, surrounded by hovering Siddhas showering praise and auspicious signs.

Characters & Entities

• Mātali
• Siddhas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine order (deva-sāhāyya) manifests with splendor and disciplined support when the protection of the worlds is at stake.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is referenced; the verse describes celestial preparations.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.