Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 146

Devanagari script

पुरोधसा सह तदा नंदीव्याकुलचेतसा । तेन चाकारिता विप्रा बहवो वेदवादिनः

Transliteration

purodhasā saha tadā naṃdīvyākulacetasā | tena cākāritā viprā bahavo vedavādinaḥ

Translation

Daraufhin ließ Nandī, im Herzen beunruhigt, zusammen mit seinem Hauspriester viele Brahmanen herbeirufen, kundige Ausleger der Veden.

Word by Word

• पुरोधसा: with the priest (purohita)
• पुरोधसा: Sahakāraka (Instrument/Associate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (Association marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय/सहार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable meaning 'with')

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• नन्दी: Nandin
• नन्दी: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• व्याकुलचेतसा: with a disturbed mind
• व्याकुलचेतसा: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याकुल-चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (चेतस्), तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; विशेषण—नन्दी (having an agitated mind)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/Agent in causative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आकारिताः: were summoned
• आकारिताः: Karma (Object; those summoned)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√कृ (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘कारिताः/आहूताः’ (caused to be called/summoned)

• विप्राः: brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण—विप्राः

• वेदवादिनः: Veda-reciting
• वेदवादिनः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद-वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण—विप्राः (those who speak/recite the Veda)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (contextual attribution within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Nandī, visibly distressed, stands with his purohita while messengers gather a circle of Veda-reciting brāhmaṇas; palm-leaf texts and ritual implements suggest imminent decision-making.

Characters & Entities

• Nandī
• Purohita
• Viprāḥ
• Veda-vādinaḥ

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When dharma is uncertain, one should seek guidance from qualified tradition-bearers (purohita and veda-vids).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra-kṣetra, where even social and ritual decisions are framed around reverence for Śiva’s presence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is prescribed here; it highlights dharmic consultation with Veda-knowers for proper conduct.