Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 191

Devanagari script

एको नंदी महाकालो द्वावेतौ शिववल्लभौ । ऊचतुस्तौ मुदायुक्तावेक एव सदाशिवः

Transliteration

eko naṃdī mahākālo dvāvetau śivavallabhau | ūcatustau mudāyuktāveka eva sadāśivaḥ

Translation

Một vị (trở thành) Nandī, vị kia (trở thành) Mahākāla—hai vị ấy là những người được Śiva yêu quý. Tràn đầy hoan hỷ, họ tuyên ngôn: “Chỉ có Một mà thôi, ấy là Sadāśiva.”

Word by Word

• ekaḥ: one
• ekaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• nandī: Nandin
• nandī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mahākālaḥ: Mahākāla
• mahākālaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dvau: two
• dvau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual)

• etau: these two
• etau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• śivavallabhau: beloved of Śiva (two)
• śivavallabhau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva + vallabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śivasya vallabhau)

• ūcatuḥ: they two said
• ūcatuḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• mudāyuktau: joined with joy; joyful
• mudāyuktau: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mudā + yukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (mudayā yuktau)

• ekaḥ: one
• ekaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• sadāśivaḥ: Sadāśiva
• sadāśivaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadā + śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta narrating; within the verse the two newly appointed attendants speak

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/brāhmaṇas addressed as ‘viprāḥ/mahābhāgāḥ’

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At the threshold of Śaṅkara’s abode/temple-gate in Kedāra, Nandī and Mahākāla appear as two radiant guardians, joyfully proclaiming the oneness of Sadāśiva.

Characters & Entities

• Nandī
• Mahākāla
• Śiva
• Sadāśiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

All forms and roles serve the One Sadāśiva; devotion culminates in recognizing Śiva’s singular supreme reality.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra-kṣetra, where Śiva’s attendants and sacred guardianship are celebrated.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse conveys theological affirmation and the sanctity of service.