Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3
Devanagari script
तत्रास्ति नन्दिनीनाम धेनुः पीनपयोधरा । विस्तीर्णजघनाभोगा हंसवर्णा घटस्रवा
Transliteration
tatrāsti nandinīnāma dhenuḥ pīnapayodharā | vistīrṇajaghanābhogā haṃsavarṇā ghaṭasravā
Translation
Dort war eine Kuh namens Nandinī, mit prall gefüllten Eutern; breit und kräftig in der Hinterhand, schwanenweiß an Farbe und Milch ausgießend wie aus einem Krug.
Word by Word
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb: there)
अस्तिis/exists
अस्ति:
Kriya (Existence/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√अस् (अस् धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (3rd person singular)
नन्दिनीNandinī
नन्दिनी:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनन्दिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, fem.)
नामnamed
नाम:
Sambandha (Apposition marker/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनाम (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; नामार्थक (named)
धेनुःcow
धेनुः:
Karta (Subject apposition/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootधेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, fem.); नन्दिनी-समानााधिकरणम् (in apposition)
पीनपयोधराwith full udders
पीनपयोधरा:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपीन-पयोधर (प्रातिपदिक: पीन + पयोधर)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, fem.); विशेषणम् (qualifier of धेनुः)
विस्तीर्णजघनाभोगाhaving broad hips and fullness
विस्तीर्णजघनाभोगा:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootविस्तीर्ण-जघन-आभोग (प्रातिपदिक: विस्तीर्ण + जघन + आभोग)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, fem.); विशेषणम् (qualifier of धेनुः)
हंसवर्णाswan-colored (white)
हंसवर्णा:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootहंस-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक: हंस + वर्ण)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, fem.); विशेषणम्
घटस्रवाflowing (milk) into a pot
घटस्रवा:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootघट-स्रव (प्रातिपदिक: घट + स्रव)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, fem.); विशेषणम् (milk flowing into a pot)
Speaker
Narrator (within the Purāṇic dialogue; exact named speaker not in snippet)
Characters & Entities
N
Nandinī (cow)FAQs
The cow symbolizes dharma and abundance; purity and generosity become instruments for sacred service.
The Śrī Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra / Kalaśeśvara setting continues; the cow becomes a vehicle for glorifying the local Śiva-liṅga.
Implied preparation for abhiṣeka (milk offering/bathing of a liṅga), though not stated as a rule in this verse.