Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

कोटिकोटिभिरेवैकः कुंडकः कुंभकस्तथा । विष्टंभोऽष्टाभिरेवेह गणपः सर्वसत्तमः

Transliteration

koṭikoṭibhirevaikaḥ kuṃḍakaḥ kuṃbhakastathā | viṣṭaṃbho'ṣṭābhireveha gaṇapaḥ sarvasattamaḥ

Translation

唯有军陀迦(Kuṃḍaka)一人，随从便是俱胝复俱胝；军婆迦(Kuṃbhaka)亦复如是。此处毗湿檀婆(Viṣṭambha)率八队而来——为伽那之主(gaṇapa)，诸有情中最胜者。

Word by Word

• कोटिकोटिभिः: with crores and crores
• कोटिकोटिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) बहुवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (instrumental plural: ‘with crores upon crores’)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम्

• एकः: one
• एकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; संख्याविशेषणम्

• कुंडकः: Kuṇḍaka
• कुंडकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुंडक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; नाम

• कुंभकः: Kumbhaka
• कुंभकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुंभक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; नाम

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थे

• विष्टंभः: Viṣṭambha
• विष्टंभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्टंभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; नाम

• अष्टाभिः: with eight
• अष्टाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) बहुवचनम्; संख्याविशेषणम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम्

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb)

• गणपः: Gaṇapa
• गणपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; नाम

• सर्वसत्तमः: best of all
• सर्वसत्तमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सत्तम’ = superlative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; अतिशयवाचकः (superlative: best of all)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Kuṃḍaka and Kuṃbhaka appear as towering gaṇa-lords with endless ranks behind them like waves; Viṣṭambha, the eminent gaṇapa, arrives with eight companies, depicted as a stabilizing, ‘supporting’ force (stambhana imagery).

Characters & Entities

• Kuṃḍaka
• Kuṃbhaka
• Viṣṭambha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Greatness in the Śaiva cosmos is measured by service and spiritual stature—gaṇa leaders embody disciplined devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the emphasis is on Śiva’s retinue.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.