Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 11
अस्त्युपायो महानत्र गन्धमादनपर्वते । मत्तश्चिरायुर्मित्रोस्ति गृध्रः प्राणसमः सुहृत्
astyupāyo mahānatra gandhamādanaparvate | mattaścirāyurmitrosti gṛdhraḥ prāṇasamaḥ suhṛt
“Ada suatu ikhtiar besar di sini—di Gunung Gandhamādana. Di sana aku mempunyai sahabat yang panjang umur: seekor burung hering, seorang sahabat baik yang kucintai laksana nyawaku sendiri.”
Ulūka
Tirtha: Gandhamādana
Type: peak
Scene: Ulūka proposes a remedy: journey to Gandhamādana where a venerable vulture-friend resides, portrayed as wise and long-lived; the mountain looms as a sacred horizon.
FAQs
Hope and right counsel (upāya) arise through virtuous friendships and the guidance of the wise and experienced.
Mount Gandhamādana is named as the significant sacred geography marker in the narrative.
No ritual is prescribed; the verse introduces a dharmic ‘means’ via a journey to Gandhamādana.