Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

पुराहिर्बुध्न्यनामा तु महर्षिः संशित व्रतः । सुदर्शनमुपास्तास्मिंस्तपस्वी गंधमादने

Transliteration

purāhirbudhnyanāmā tu maharṣiḥ saṃśita vrataḥ | sudarśanamupāstāsmiṃstapasvī gaṃdhamādane

Translation

Pada zaman dahulu, seorang maharishi bernama Ahirbudhnya, teguh dalam nazar dan vratanya, ber-tapa di Gunung Gandhamādana serta memuja Sudarśana Cakra di sana dengan bhakti.

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly, in the past
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time adjunct/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of time)

• अहिर्बुध्न्यनामा: (one) named Ahirbudhnya
• अहिर्बुध्न्यनामा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिर्बुध्न्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘अहिर्बुध्न्य’ इति नाम यस्य (nāma-tatpuruṣa)

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थक

• महर्षिः: great sage
• महर्षिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• संशितव्रतः: of disciplined/strict vows
• संशितव्रतः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशित (कृदन्त; √शा/शि ‘to sharpen/discipline’ + क्त) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘महर्षिः’

• सुदर्शनम्: Sudarśana (the discus-personified)
• सुदर्शनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उपास्त: worshipped, served
• उपास्त: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√आस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘उपास्त’ = upāste/upa-āsa (he worshipped/served)

• अस्मिन्: in this (place)
• अस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तपस्वी: ascetic
• तपस्वी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गन्धमादने: in (the place) Gandhamādana
• गन्धमादने: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + मादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक—‘गन्धस्य मादनम्’ (place called Gandhamādana)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: ब्राह्मणाः / द्विजाः (addressed audience)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vow-bound sage Ahirbudhnya sits in deep meditation on Gandhamādana amid fragrant forests; a radiant Sudarśana-discus is worshipped on a small altar, with ascetic implements and a quiet Himalayan backdrop.

Characters & Entities

• Ahirbudhnya
• Sudarśana
• Gandhamādana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Steadfast vows and disciplined austerity, when joined with devoted worship, draw divine presence and protection.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative begins on Gandhamādana and leads into the later glorification of Cakratīrtha in the Setu region.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tapas (austerity) and upāsanā (devotional worship) of Sudarśana are highlighted.