Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

नन्दा हिमवतः प्रस्थे गोकर्णे भद्रकर्णिका । स्थानेश्वरे भवानी तु बिल्वके बिल्वपत्त्रिका

Transliteration

nandā himavataḥ prasthe gokarṇe bhadrakarṇikā | sthāneśvare bhavānī tu bilvake bilvapattrikā

Translation

An den Hängen des Himavat ist sie Nandā, die Seligkeit spendet. In Gokarṇa ist sie Bhadrakarṇikā, die mit glückverheißendem Ohr. In Sthāneśvara ist sie Bhavānī, die Gemahlin Bhavas, Śivas. Und in Bilvaka ist sie Bilvapattrikā, die mit Bilva-Blättern Verehrte.

Word by Word

• नन्दा: Nandā (name)
• नन्दा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हिमवतः: of Himavat (Himalaya)
• हिमवतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• प्रस्थे: on the plateau/slope
• प्रस्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गोकर्णे: in Gokarṇa
• गोकर्णे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (स्थलनाम), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोः कर्णः)

• भद्रकर्णिका: Bhadrakarṇikā (name)
• भद्रकर्णिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र + कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (भद्रा कर्णिका)

• स्थानेश्वरे: in Sthāneśvara
• स्थानेश्वरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (स्थलनाम), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्थानस्य ईश्वरः)

• भवानी: Bhavānī (name)
• भवानी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोध (but/indeed)

• बिल्वके: in Bilvaka
• बिल्वके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (स्थलनाम), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बिल्वपत्त्रिका: Bilvapattrikā (name; ‘having bilva leaves’)
• बिल्वपत्त्रिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व + पत्त्रिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बिल्वस्य पत्त्रिका)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gokarṇa; Sthāneśvara; Himalayan prasthas; Bilvaka

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devī appears in four settings: as Nandā on Himalayan slopes blessing ascetics; as Bhadrakarṇikā at Gokarṇa near the sea with conch-sounds; as Bhavānī at Sthāneśvara with dharma banners and pilgrims; and as Bilvapattrikā in a bilva grove receiving green leaves and lamps.

Characters & Entities

• Himavat
• Gokarṇa
• Sthāneśvara
• Bilvaka
• Nandā
• Bhadrakarṇikā
• Bhavānī
• Bilvapattrikā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Goddess sanctifies diverse landscapes—from Himalayan heights to coastal and forest shrines—inviting devotees to recognize her presence everywhere.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Himavat-prastha (Himalayan region), Gokarṇa (Karnataka), Sthāneśvara (Thanesar region), and Bilvaka (a bilva-grove shrine tradition).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Bilva-leaf devotion is implied by the name Bilvapattrikā, aligning with offering bilva leaves in Śiva–Śakti worship.