Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणा नोदितस्तत्र हिमालयगृहं प्रति । नारदोथ ददर्शाग्रे आत्मानं विनयान्वितम्

Transliteration

brahmaṇā noditastatra himālayagṛhaṃ prati | nāradotha dadarśāgre ātmānaṃ vinayānvitam

Translation

Von Brahmā angetrieben, begab sich Nārada dorthin zur Wohnstatt des Himālaya; und voraus erblickte er — sich selbst — erfüllt von Demut und rechter Lebensführung.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• नोदितः: impelled; urged
• नोदितः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-उद् (धातु) → नोदित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'प्रेरितः/उत्साहितः' (impelled)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• हिमालयगृहं: the house/abode of Himālaya
• हिमालयगृहं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमालय-गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—हिमालयस्य गृहं

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Gati/Direction (दिशा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृशं/पूर्वसर्गः; गत्यर्थे (towards)

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connective/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/सम्बन्धबोधक (then/now)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अग्रे: in front; ahead
• अग्रे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-न्यायेन अव्ययवत्; स्थानवाचक (in front/ahead)

• आत्मानं: himself; the self
• आत्मानं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विनयान्वितम्: endowed with humility
• विनयान्वितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय-अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—विनयेन अन्वितः

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) speaking to the sages (contextual attribution within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Himālaya (as kṣetra-bhūmi within Kedāra narrative)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Nārada, prompted by Brahmā, journeys toward Himālaya’s abode; in a striking moment he beholds a humble, well-conducted ‘Nārada-like’ figure ahead—an uncanny self-vision.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Nārada
• Himālaya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the greatest devotees proceed under divine instruction, and vinaya (humility) is presented as essential for entering sacred Himalayan realms.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Himalayan sacred sphere connected with Kedāra, with mention of Himālaya’s abode as a pivotal sacred-geographical reference.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is stated; the emphasis is on divine prompting and the inner discipline of humility.