Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 52
वर्धनं बंधनं चैव आयुर्वेदविशारदौ । स्कन्दाय ददतुः प्रीतावश्विनौ भरतर्षभ
vardhanaṃ baṃdhanaṃ caiva āyurvedaviśāradau | skandāya dadatuḥ prītāvaśvinau bharatarṣabha
ഹേ ഭാരതശ്രേഷ്ഠാ! പ്രീതനായ അശ്വിനീദേവദ്വയം സ്കന്ദനു വർധനനും ബന്ധനനും എന്ന രണ്ടുപേരെ ദാനം ചെയ്തു—ഇരുവരും ആയുർവേദത്തിൽ പ്രാവീണ്യമുള്ളവർ।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages
Listener: bharatarṣabha (as addressed in-verse; likely the interlocutor in the narrative frame)
Scene: The twin Aśvins, radiant and youthful, offer Skanda two attendants—Vardhana and Bandhana—depicted with physician’s implements and healing herbs, signifying medical mastery within Skanda’s retinue.
FAQs
Dharma is protected not only by weapons but also by healing knowledge—Āyurveda is honored as a divine support for Skanda’s cause.
None is mentioned in this verse.
None; the verse highlights Āyurvedic expertise rather than prescribing a rite.