Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 65

Devanagari script

त्यक्त्वा रथावुभौ भीतौ पदाती प्रद्रुतौ द्रुतम् । जग्मतुर्महिषाद्भीतौ शरणं पाकशासनम्

Transliteration

tyaktvā rathāvubhau bhītau padātī pradrutau drutam | jagmaturmahiṣādbhītau śaraṇaṃ pākaśāsanam

Translation

二者弃车，惊恐万状，徒步疾奔；因畏惧摩希沙，遂往帕卡萨萨纳（因陀罗）处寻求庇护。

Word by Word

• tyaktvā: having left
• tyaktvā: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (त्यज्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having abandoned’

• rathau: the two chariots
• rathau: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), द्विवचन

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of ‘rathau’)

• bhītau: frightened
• bhītau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīta (कृदन्त; √bhī ‘भी’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (of the two gods)

• padātī: (becoming) foot-soldiers/on foot
• padātī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), द्विवचन (Vedic/epic usage; expected padātī/padātinau); ‘on foot’

• pradrutau: running away, fleeing
• pradrutau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pradruta (कृदन्त; pra+√dru ‘द्रु’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (of the two)

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: drutam (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘quickly’

• jagmatuḥ: went
• jagmatuḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• mahiṣāt: from the buffalo(-demon)
• mahiṣāt: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• bhītau: afraid
• bhītau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīta (कृदन्त; √bhī ‘भी’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (of the two)

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Karma (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; गत्यर्थकक्रियायाः कर्म (goal)

• pāka-śāsanam: Pākaśāsana (Indra)
• pāka-śāsanam: Karma (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāka (प्रातिपदिक)+śāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; इन्द्रस्य उपाधिः—‘पाकस्य शासकः’

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two devas leap down from their chariots in panic, running on foot with garments fluttering; behind them looms Mahīṣa’s threat; ahead rises Indra’s protective presence—throne, banner, or celestial gate.

Characters & Entities

• Mahiṣa
• Indra (Pākaśāsana)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When overwhelmed by adharma, one seeks śaraṇa (refuge) in rightful authority and divine order—symbolized here by approaching Indra.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse is a battlefield episode rather than a sthala-māhātmya passage.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse narrates flight and seeking refuge.