Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 57

Devanagari script

यममार्गेऽपि विहितं स्वर्गलोकमिवापरम् । गतौ तत्र पुनश्चान्यैर्यमदूतैर्यमाज्ञया

Transliteration

yamamārge'pi vihitaṃ svargalokamivāparam | gatau tatra punaścānyairyamadūtairyamājñayā

Translation

แม้บนหนทางของพระยมก็ยังมีสถานที่นั้นตั้งไว้ดุจสวรรค์อีกชั้นหนึ่ง ครั้นไปถึงแล้ว ด้วยพระบัญชาของพระยม เขาทั้งหลายจึงดำเนินต่อไปพร้อมกับยมทูตอื่น ๆ

Word by Word

• यममार्गे: on the path of Yama
• यममार्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम-मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य मार्गः)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थः—‘even/also’

• विहितम्: arranged/appointed
• विहितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-धा (धातु) → विहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘arranged/appointed’

• स्वर्गलोकम्: the heaven-world
• स्वर्गलोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग-लोक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्गस्य लोकः)

• इव: like/as if
• इव: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• अपरम्: another
• अपरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘other/another’ (स्वर्गलोकम् इति विशेषणम्)

• गतौ: (the two) went/arrived
• गतौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘having gone/arrived’ (कर्तरि प्रयोगः)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्यैः: by other
• अन्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘by other’ (यमदूतैः इति विशेषणम्)

• यमदूतैः: by Yama’s messengers
• यमदूतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम-दूत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य दूताः)

• यमाज्ञया: by Yama’s command
• यमाज्ञया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम-आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य आज्ञा)

Speaker

Unspecified (Revā Khaṇḍa narrator; likely Sūta in the frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vast, dim cosmic roadway leading through a stern yet orderly realm; unexpectedly, a radiant ‘heaven-like’ station appears on the path, with Yama’s messengers regrouping under command.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamadūta

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma’s governance is portrayed as divinely ordered; even the route of judgment can appear heaven-like, underscoring the majesty of cosmic law.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No earthly site; the focus is Yama-mārga and Yama’s administration through his messengers.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse narrates movement under Yama’s command.