Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

वीरभद्रं महाकालं नंदिं हस्तिमुखं तथा । अघोरं घोरनादं च घोरघंटं महाबलम्

Transliteration

vīrabhadraṃ mahākālaṃ naṃdiṃ hastimukhaṃ tathā | aghoraṃ ghoranādaṃ ca ghoraghaṃṭaṃ mahābalam

Translation

他召来毗罗跋陀罗、摩诃迦罗、难提与象面者（Hastimukha），又召阿伽罗、怖吼者（Ghoranāda）及大力的怖铃者（Ghoraghaṇṭa）——皆为湿婆之强大侍从，堪当可怖之战。

Word by Word

• वीरभद्रम्: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम (गणविशेषः)

• महाकालम्: Mahākāla
• महाकालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम

• नन्दिम्: Nandin
• नन्दिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम (नन्दी)

• हस्ति-मुखम्: Elephant-faced one
• हस्ति-मुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम (गणविशेषः)

• तथा: also; and
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/क्रियाविशेषण) — 'also/and so'

• अघोरम्: Aghora
• अघोरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम

• घोर-नादम्: Ghoranāda (terrible-roar)
• घोर-नादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• घोर-घण्टम्: Ghoraghaṇṭa
• घोर-घण्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + घण्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम

• महाबलम्: very strong; mighty
• महाबलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (घोरघण्टम् इत्यस्य)

Speaker

Deductive (Nāgara Khaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narrator; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa speaking to sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/śrotṛ-gaṇa (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A roll-call of formidable gaṇas—Vīrabhadra, Mahākāla, Nandin, Hastimukha, Aghora, Ghoranāda, Ghoraghaṇṭa—each distinct in form, weapons, and aura, assembling around Śiva’s command.

Characters & Entities

• Vīrabhadra
• Mahākāla
• Nandin
• Hastimukha
• Aghora
• Ghoranāda
• Ghoraghaṇṭa
• Śiva (implied by gaṇa context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva’s dharma is protected through his gaṇas—divine power is mobilized to restore cosmic order when adharma rises.

Which specific holy site (Tīrtha) is glorified here?

This verse is within the Nāgara Khaṇḍa’s Tīrthamāhātmya setting; the immediate line emphasizes Śaiva guardians rather than naming a single tīrtha in the verse itself.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it is a narrative listing of Śiva’s attendants.