Skanda’s Svastyayana and the Slaying of Taraka and Mahisha
श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं स्कन्दो मयूरं प्रोह्य वेगवान् प्रदक्षिणं पादचारी कर्त्तु तूर्णतरो ऽब्यगात्
śrutvā tadvacanaṃ skando mayūraṃ prohya vegavān pradakṣiṇaṃ pādacārī karttu tūrṇataro 'byagāt
ఆ మాటలు విని వేగవంతుడైన స్కందుడు మయూరంపై ఎక్కాడు; అయినా పాదచారిగా ఉండి ప్రదక్షిణ చేయుటకు మరింత త్వరగా బయలుదేరాడు.
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The verse juxtaposes symbols of power (vāhana) with the chosen mode of action (pādacārī). It can signal a deliberate strategy: the contest is framed as a ‘pradakṣiṇā’ act, and Skanda adopts the manner he deems most effective or most appropriate to the rule of the challenge.
Yes, it reads as a purposeful contrast. Purāṇic style often uses such compression: either Skanda initially mounts and then dismounts to proceed, or the line emphasizes that despite having a mount available, he outstrips by foot—highlighting extraordinary vigor.
No new named rivers/forests/tīrthas appear in this śloka; the operative geographic anchor remains Krauñca from the immediately preceding verse, indicating the landscape focus of the episode.