Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा वादित्रनिर्घोषं सर्वे शंकरसेवकाः । उत्थिता ऐकापद्येन देवैरृषिभिरावृताः

Transliteration

śrutvā vāditranirghoṣaṃ sarve śaṃkarasevakāḥ | utthitā aikāpadyena devairṛṣibhirāvṛtāḥ

Translation

Als sie das widerhallende Dröhnen der Musikinstrumente vernahmen, erhoben sich alle Diener, die Śaṅkara ergeben waren, sogleich — umgeben von Göttern und ṛṣi-Weisen.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव (gerund/absolutive): ‘having heard’

• वादित्रनिर्घोषम्: the loud sound of instruments
• वादित्रनिर्घोषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वादित्र+निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—वादित्रस्य निर्घोषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• शंकरसेवकाः: servants/devotees of Shankara
• शंकरसेवकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर+सेवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—शंकरस्य सेवकाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• उत्थिताः: rose up/stood up
• उत्थिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्+स्था (धातु) → उत्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृसम्बन्धि

• ऐकापद्येन: in a single step/at once
• ऐकापद्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐकापद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—एकपद्येन/एकपद्या (एकेन पदेन) इति अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगः ‘in one step/at once’

• देवैः: by the gods
• देवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• ऋषिभिः: by sages
• ऋषिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• आवृताः: surrounded
• आवृताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ+वृ (धातु) → आवृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (शंकरसेवकाः)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa), per Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative convention

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra / Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At the surge of instrument-sound, Śaṅkara’s attendants rise in unison, framed by gods and sages—an instant of synchronized devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Śaṅkara-sevakas (attendants)
• Devas
• Ṛṣis

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred sound and remembrance of Śiva awaken devotees to readiness and reverent action.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra-kṣetra, as framed by the Kedārakhaṇḍa of the Skanda Purana.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is prescribed; the verse evokes auspicious vāditra (instrumental) sounds typical of divine worship and procession.