Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 106

Devanagari script

कालमृत्युरपि प्राज्ञैर्नीयते नापि संयुतैः । नास्ति मृत्युसमं दुःखं नास्ति मृत्युसमं भयम्

Transliteration

kālamṛtyurapi prājñairnīyate nāpi saṃyutaiḥ | nāsti mṛtyusamaṃ duḥkhaṃ nāsti mṛtyusamaṃ bhayam

Translation

Ngay cả bậc trí giả, đầy đủ phương tiện, cũng không thể ngăn được “tử thần của Thời gian”. Không có nỗi khổ nào bằng cái chết, và không có nỗi sợ nào bằng cái chết.

Word by Word

• kālamṛtyuḥ: time-death (death at the appointed time)
• kālamṛtyuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kālasya mṛtyuḥ = 'death of time/at time')

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थः 'even/also'

• prājñaiḥ: by the wise
• prājñaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• nīyate: is led/controlled
• nīyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (नीञ्, धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• saṃyutaiḥ: by those united/combined (forces)
• saṃyutaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyuta (संयुत, प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; 'संयुत' = संयुक्त/समवेत (associated/combined)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• asti: is/exists
• asti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस्, धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mṛtyu-samam: equal to death
• mṛtyu-samam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (mṛtyunā samam = 'equal to death')

• duḥkham: sorrow
• duḥkham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• asti: is/exists
• asti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस्, धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mṛtyu-samam: equal to death
• mṛtyu-samam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contemplative speaker points to the unstoppable wheel of Time; behind, figures of all stations—scholars, warriors, wealthy—stand equally shadowed by Death.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Since death cannot be resisted by mere intelligence or resources, one should cultivate detachment and seek the imperishable refuge of Dharma and devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular Tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse is contemplative, emphasizing mortality as the greatest fear and sorrow.