Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3
तत्रास्ति नन्दिनीनाम धेनुः पीनपयोधरा । विस्तीर्णजघनाभोगा हंसवर्णा घटस्रवा
tatrāsti nandinīnāma dhenuḥ pīnapayodharā | vistīrṇajaghanābhogā haṃsavarṇā ghaṭasravā
അവിടെ ‘നന്ദിനി’ എന്നൊരു ധേനു ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു—പാലാൽ നിറഞ്ഞ തനങ്ങളോടെ; വിശാലമായ പൃഷ്ഠഭാഗം കൊണ്ടു സുനിർമ്മിതയായി, ഹംസവർണ്ണമായ ശുഭ്രകാന്തിയോടെ, ഘടത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ഒഴുകുന്നതുപോലെ നിരന്തരം പാൽ ചൊരിയുന്നവൾ।
Narrator (within the Purāṇic dialogue; exact named speaker not in snippet)
Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra narrative region (Gokula episode)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Dvija interlocutor(s)
Scene: Close portrait of Nandinī: swan-white cow with full udders, broad hindquarters, milk streaming like from a pot; gopīs approach with clay vessels; the background shows the newly formed Gokula with flowering trees.
FAQs
The cow symbolizes dharma and abundance; purity and generosity become instruments for sacred service.
The Śrī Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra / Kalaśeśvara setting continues; the cow becomes a vehicle for glorifying the local Śiva-liṅga.
Implied preparation for abhiṣeka (milk offering/bathing of a liṅga), though not stated as a rule in this verse.