Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 66

Devanagari script

हैमं कलशमादाय मेना चार्द्धां गामाश्रिता । हिमाद्रेश्च महाभागा सर्वाभरणभूषिता

Transliteration

haimaṃ kalaśamādāya menā cārddhāṃ gāmāśritā | himādreśca mahābhāgā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā

Translation

Mit einem goldenen Wasserkrug in der Hand trat Menā zum Ritus heran, indem sie sich auf eine Kuh stützte. Jene glückselige Frau des Himādri war mit jedem Schmuck geziert.

Word by Word

• हैमम्: golden
• हैमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैम (प्रातिपदिक; हेमन्-सम्बन्धी)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of कलशम्)

• कलशम्: a pot, pitcher
• कलशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया; ‘having taken’

• मेना: Menā
• मेना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक निपात (conjunction)

• अर्द्धाम्: half
• अर्द्धाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘half’ (qualifier of गाम्)

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आश्रिता: having approached/resorted to
• आश्रिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘having resorted/approached’

• हिमाद्रेः: of Himādri (Himalaya)
• हिमाद्रेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिम + अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासः—हिमस्य अद्रिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक निपात (conjunction)

• महाभागा: most fortunate, noble
• महाभागा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā + भाग (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—महान् भागः यस्याः/या (महाभागा)

• सर्वाभरणभूषिता: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्वाभरणभूषिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आभरण + भूषित (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—सर्वैः आभरणैः भूषिता (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासभाव)

Speaker

Lomaśa

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra (contextual setting of Kedārakhaṇḍa)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages (traditional frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Menā, richly ornamented, holds a golden kalaśa and advances toward the ritual space, leaning upon/supporting herself with a cow; snowy Himalayan backdrop and attendants implied.

Characters & Entities

• Menā
• Himādri (Himālaya)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred rites are performed with auspicious symbols (kalaśa, cow) reflecting purity, prosperity, and dharmic sanctity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative belongs to Kedārakhaṇḍa, whose broader aim is to celebrate Kedāra and Śiva’s sacred presence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Use of a kalaśa (ritual pot) and auspicious observance involving the cow are indicated as part of ceremonial preparation.