Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 36
Devanagari script
विचित्रवाहनाश्चैव नानायुधधरास्तथा । गीतवादित्रतत्त्वज्ञाः सत्त्वगीतरसप्रियाः
Transliteration
vicitravāhanāścaiva nānāyudhadharāstathā | gītavāditratattvajñāḥ sattvagītarasapriyāḥ
Translation
他们乘坐奇异的坐骑，执持种种兵器；通晓歌咏与乐器之理，喜爱清净和谐之乐的妙味。
Word by Word
vicitra-vāhanāḥhaving various mounts/vehicles
vicitra-vāhanāḥ:
Karta (predicate adjective)
TypeAdjective
Rootvicitra (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (vicitrāni vāhanāni yeṣām)
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (coordination)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-निपातः (conjunction)
evaindeed
eva:
Avadhāraṇa (emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-निपातः (emphasis)
nānā-āyudha-dharāḥbearing various weapons
nānā-āyudha-dharāḥ:
Karta (predicate adjective)
TypeAdjective
Rootnānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (nānāvidhāni āyudhāni dharanti ye)
tathālikewise
tathā:
Samuccaya (addition)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb: likewise/also)
gīta-vāditra-tattva-jñāḥknowers of the principles of song and instruments
gīta-vāditra-tattva-jñāḥ:
Karta (predicate adjective)
TypeAdjective
Rootgīta (प्रातिपदिक) + vāditra (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (gīta-vāditrayoḥ tattvaṃ jānanti ye)
sattva-gīta-rasa-priyāḥfond of the flavor/essence of sattvic song
sattva-gīta-rasa-priyāḥ:
Karta (predicate adjective)
TypeAdjective
Rootsattva (प्रातिपदिक) + gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + rasa (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (sattvagītasya rasaḥ tasmin priyāḥ)
Speaker
Narrator (contextual, within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative frame)
Tirtha Mahatmya
Type: kshetra
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A festive retinue: gaṇas on strange mounts, carrying varied weapons, yet also connoisseurs of song and instruments—martial and musical energies fused into sacred celebration.
Characters & Entities
Ś
Śiva’s gaṇas (implied)FAQs
Devotion to Śiva includes both strength (weapons, protection) and refinement (sacred music and aesthetic rasa).
None; the verse continues the description of Śiva’s attendants.
No direct ritual is prescribed; it alludes to devotional arts like sacred song and instrumental worship.