Vamana Purana — Skanda Slays Taraka & Mahisha, Shloka 102
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
闻此言，斯堪达素以迅捷著称，遂乘其孔雀；然而他却以步行更为迅速地出发，欲行绕行礼（pradakṣiṇā）。
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FAQs
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.