Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 78
देवोऽप्युदाहरेद्वुद्धिं सर्वेभ्योऽप्यधिकां वराम् । ततः शैलस्तथा चोक्त्वा दत्त्वा देवीं च सोदकम्
devo'pyudāharedvuddhiṃ sarvebhyo'pyadhikāṃ varām | tataḥ śailastathā coktvā dattvā devīṃ ca sodakam
देव (विष्णु) यांनीही सर्वांपेक्षा श्रेष्ठ असा उत्तम उपदेश सांगितला। मग हिमवान् शैलाने तसेच बोलून देवीला सोदक (विधिजलासह) दान दिले।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating
Scene: Viṣṇu pronounces an exalted counsel; Himavat, solemn and regal, prepares the formal gifting of the Goddess with a water-vessel, signaling the wedding’s dharmic completion.
FAQs
Dharma is upheld through correct counsel and correctly performed rites, symbolized by the water-offering in giving the bride.
No specific tīrtha is named; the setting evokes the Himalayan divine milieu of the narrative.
The giving of the bride “with water” (sodaka) indicates the formal, dharmic handover (udaka-dāna) in marriage.