Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

अथो गिरिजया सार्द्धं महेशो गन्धमादने । एकांते च मतिं चक्रे रमणार्थं स्वरूपवान्

Transliteration

atho girijayā sārddhaṃ maheśo gandhamādane | ekāṃte ca matiṃ cakre ramaṇārthaṃ svarūpavān

Translation

मग स्वरूपवान तेजस्वी महेशाने गिरिजेसह गंधमादनाच्या एकांतात रमण—प्रेमक्रीडा—करण्याचा संकल्प केला.

Word by Word

• atho: then
• atho: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha + u (अव्यय-सन्धि)
• Form: अव्यय (discourse particle: 'then/now')

• girijayā: with Girijā (Pārvatī)
• girijayā: Sahakāraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: girijā (प्रातिपदिक; giri + jā)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• sārddham: together with
• sārddham: Sahakāraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārddham (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (adverb/postposition: 'together with')

• maheśaḥ: Maheśa (Śiva)
• maheśaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक; mahā + īśa)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gandhamādane: on Gandhamādana (mountain)
• gandhamādane: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + mādana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• ekānte: in solitude; in a secluded place
• ekānte: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

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

• matim: intention; thought
• matim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• cakre: made; formed
• cakre: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• ramaṇārtham: for enjoyment; for amorous sport
• ramaṇārtham: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनवाचक (accusative of purpose)

• svarūpavān: possessing his own form; in his true form
• svarūpavān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (मतुप्/वतुप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (possessive)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gandhamādana

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A secluded Himalayan grove on Gandhamādana: flowering trees, fragrant breezes, a hidden bower; Maheśa and Girijā together, radiant yet modestly composed, suggesting intention for loving sport; attendants (gaṇas) kept distant to preserve ekānta.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśa (Śiva)
• Girijā (Pārvatī)
• Gandhamādana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The divine couple’s presence sanctifies the landscape; sacred geography is shaped by līlā (divine play) as well as tapas.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Gandhamādana is highlighted as a sanctified mountain setting within the Kedāra narrative horizon.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is prescribed; the verse sets the scene for ensuing cosmic consequences and dharmic response.