Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

तौ प्रस्थिताविति तदा विप्रेंद्रनृपपुंगवौ । हिमाचलं प्रति प्रीतौ नाडीजंघालयं प्रति

Transliteration

tau prasthitāviti tadā vipreṃdranṛpapuṃgavau | himācalaṃ prati prītau nāḍījaṃghālayaṃ prati

Translation

Then those two—the best of brāhmaṇas and the foremost of kings—set out with glad hearts toward Himācala, toward the dwelling of Nāḍījaṅgha.

Word by Word

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• prasthitau: having set out
• prasthitau: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√sthā (स्था धातु) → prasthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण (departed/setting out)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotation/closure/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थक-निपात

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• vipra-indra-nṛpa-puṃgavau: the best of Brahmins and the bull among kings (the two)
• vipra-indra-nṛpa-puṃgavau: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक) + nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + puṃgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (विप्रेषु इन्द्रः; नृपेषु पुंगवः) द्वयोरपि विशेषणात्मक-सम्बोधनार्थक संज्ञा

• himācalam: Himālaya (snow-mountain)
• himācalam: Karma (Goal as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himācala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; स्थाननाम

• prati: towards
• prati: Dik/Pratiyogin (Direction/दिक्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-पूर्वक/प्रत्यर्थक (towards)

• prītau: delighted
• prītau: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण

• nāḍījaṃgha-ālayam: the abode of Nāḍījaṃgha
• nāḍījaṃgha-ālayam: Karma (Goal as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāḍījaṃgha (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (nāḍījaṃghasya ālayaḥ)

• prati: towards
• prati: Dik/Pratiyogin (Direction/दिक्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशार्थक (towards)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta-style narration within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Himācala (as sacred mountain realm)

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A brāhmaṇa-sage and a king begin a journey with joyful hearts toward the Himalaya; distant snow peaks, a winding path, attendants minimal, emphasis on purposeful travel.

Characters & Entities

• Himācala
• Nāḍījaṅgha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is pursued through purposeful travel—seeking truth and aid with sincerity and joy.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Himācala (Himalayan sacred region) is indicated as the direction of travel, though no specific tīrtha is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it narrates a dharmic journey.