Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

यज्ञोपवितविधिना उरसा बिभ्रंत वृतम् । वासुकिं सर्पराजं च कंबलाश्वतरौ तथा

Transliteration

yajñopavitavidhinā urasā bibhraṃta vṛtam | vāsukiṃ sarparājaṃ ca kaṃbalāśvatarau tathā

Translation

Ils le virent porter, selon le rite, le yajñopavīta (cordon sacré) en travers de la poitrine ; et, pour ornements, Vāsuki, roi des serpents, ainsi que Kambala et Aśvatara.

Word by Word

• यज्ञोपवीतविधिना: by the rule/manner of the sacred thread
• यज्ञोपवीतविधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञोपवीत (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञोपवीतस्य विधिः)

• उरसा: with the chest
• उरसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बिभ्रत्: bearing, wearing
• बिभ्रत्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृ (धातु) → बिभ्रत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (कर्तरि); (शंभुः/सः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्, अनुक्त-विशेष्य)

• वृतम्: a covering/garment (worn)
• वृतम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (आभरण-रूपेण)

• वासुकिम्: Vāsuki
• वासुकिम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुकि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्पराजम्: king of serpents
• सर्पराजम्: Karman (Object-apposition/कर्म-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्पाणां राजा)

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

• कम्बलाश्वतरौ: Kambala and Aśvatara
• कम्बलाश्वतरौ: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कम्बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्वतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (कम्बलः च अश्वतरः च)

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa) describing the vision

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis at Naimiṣāraṇya

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close iconographic focus: Śiva with sacred thread properly worn across the chest; serpents Vāsuki, Kambala, and Aśvatara adorning him as living ornaments; devas gaze in awe.

Characters & Entities

• Vāsuki
• Kambala
• Aśvatara
• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva is portrayed as the supreme ascetic-lord who sanctifies Vedic order (yajñopavīta) while effortlessly transcending fearsome powers (nāgas) as mere ornaments.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra (Kedārakṣetra) in the Kedārakhaṇḍa, where divine vision and praise of Śiva unfold.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is prescribed here; the verse emphasizes iconographic dharma—Śiva wearing the yajñopavīta properly.