Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

विचित्रवाहनाश्चैव नानायुधधरास्तथा । गीतवादित्रतत्त्वज्ञाः सत्त्वगीतरसप्रियाः

Transliteration

vicitravāhanāścaiva nānāyudhadharāstathā | gītavāditratattvajñāḥ sattvagītarasapriyāḥ

Translation

They had wondrous mounts and bore weapons of many kinds. They knew the true principles of song and instruments, and they delighted in the savor of pure, harmonious music.

Word by Word

• vicitra-vāhanāḥ: having various mounts/vehicles
• vicitra-vāhanāḥ: Karta (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (vicitrāni vāhanāni yeṣām)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपातः (conjunction)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपातः (emphasis)

• nānā-āyudha-dharāḥ: bearing various weapons
• nānā-āyudha-dharāḥ: Karta (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (nānāvidhāni āyudhāni dharanti ye)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (addition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb: likewise/also)

• gīta-vāditra-tattva-jñāḥ: knowers of the principles of song and instruments
• gīta-vāditra-tattva-jñāḥ: Karta (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + vāditra (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (gīta-vāditrayoḥ tattvaṃ jānanti ye)

• sattva-gīta-rasa-priyāḥ: fond of the flavor/essence of sattvic song
• sattva-gīta-rasa-priyāḥ: Karta (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक) + gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + rasa (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (sattvagītasya rasaḥ tasmin priyāḥ)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual, within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative frame)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A festive retinue: gaṇas on strange mounts, carrying varied weapons, yet also connoisseurs of song and instruments—martial and musical energies fused into sacred celebration.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva’s gaṇas (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion to Śiva includes both strength (weapons, protection) and refinement (sacred music and aesthetic rasa).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse continues the description of Śiva’s attendants.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is prescribed; it alludes to devotional arts like sacred song and instrumental worship.