Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

स्वपतिप्राणसिद्ध्यर्थं गायत्री च सरस्वती । सर्वोत्कृष्टं शिवस्थानं गन्धमादनपर्वतम्

Transliteration

svapatiprāṇasiddhyarthaṃ gāyatrī ca sarasvatī | sarvotkṛṣṭaṃ śivasthānaṃ gandhamādanaparvatam

Translation

Demi menyempurnakan pemulihan nyawa suami, Gāyatrī dan Sarasvatī menetapkan Gunung Gandhamādana—dhāma Śiva yang paling unggul.

Word by Word

• स्वपति-प्राण-सिद्धि-अर्थम्: for the accomplishment of their husbands’ life
• स्वपति-प्राण-सिद्धि-अर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-पति-प्राण-सिद्धि-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + पति + प्राण + सिद्धि + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the sake of)

• गायत्री: Gāyatrī
• गायत्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī
• सरस्वती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• सर्वोत्कृष्टम्: the most excellent
• सर्वोत्कृष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-उत्कृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + उत्कृष्ट)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• शिवस्थानम्: Śiva’s abode
• शिवस्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक; शिव + स्थान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• गन्धमादनपर्वतम्: the Gandhamādana mountain
• गन्धमादनपर्वतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धमादन-पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक; गन्धमादन + पर्वत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; नामविशेषः

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gandhamādana-Śiva-sthāna (contextual)

Type: peak

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: muni/brāhmaṇa audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī, radiant yet determined, point toward a towering fragrant mountain crowned with Śiva’s presence—linga/Śiva-symbols, siddhas, and cloud-wreathed peaks.

Characters & Entities

• Gāyatrī
• Sarasvatī
• Śiva
• Gandhamādana Mountain

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Choosing a sanctified Śiva-sthāna and undertaking tapas there is portrayed as a powerful dharmic means to seek restoration and grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Gandhamādana Mountain is praised as a supremely excellent Śiva-sthāna (sacred abode of Śiva).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The intent for tapas is introduced; specific observances follow in subsequent verses.