Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 191

Devanagari script

एको नंदी महाकालो द्वावेतौ शिववल्लभौ । ऊचतुस्तौ मुदायुक्तावेक एव सदाशिवः

Transliteration

eko naṃdī mahākālo dvāvetau śivavallabhau | ūcatustau mudāyuktāveka eva sadāśivaḥ

Translation

L’un (devint) Nandī, l’autre Mahākāla : tous deux, bien-aimés de Śiva. Emplis de joie, ils proclamèrent : «En vérité, Sadāśiva est l’Unique».

Word by Word

• ekaḥ: one
• ekaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• nandī: Nandin
• nandī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mahākālaḥ: Mahākāla
• mahākālaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dvau: two
• dvau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual)

• etau: these two
• etau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• śivavallabhau: beloved of Śiva (two)
• śivavallabhau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva + vallabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śivasya vallabhau)

• ūcatuḥ: they two said
• ūcatuḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन

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

• mudāyuktau: joined with joy; joyful
• mudāyuktau: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mudā + yukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (mudayā yuktau)

• ekaḥ: one
• ekaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• sadāśivaḥ: Sadāśiva
• sadāśivaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadā + śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta narrating; within the verse the two newly appointed attendants speak

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/brāhmaṇas addressed as ‘viprāḥ/mahābhāgāḥ’

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At the threshold of Śaṅkara’s abode/temple-gate in Kedāra, Nandī and Mahākāla appear as two radiant guardians, joyfully proclaiming the oneness of Sadāśiva.

Characters & Entities

• Nandī
• Mahākāla
• Śiva
• Sadāśiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

All forms and roles serve the One Sadāśiva; devotion culminates in recognizing Śiva’s singular supreme reality.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra-kṣetra, where Śiva’s attendants and sacred guardianship are celebrated.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse conveys theological affirmation and the sanctity of service.