Vamana Purana — Birth of Skanda (Kartikeya), Shloka 104

The Birth and Consecration of Skanda (Kartikeya) at Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

गणैर्वृतो मातृबिरन्वयातो मयूरसंस्थो वरशक्तिपाणिः सैन्याधिपत्ये स कृतो भवेन रराज सूर्येव महावपुष्मान्

Transliteration

gaṇairvṛto mātṛbiranvayāto mayūrasaṃstho varaśaktipāṇiḥ sainyādhipatye sa kṛto bhavena rarāja sūryeva mahāvapuṣmān

Translation

Surrounded by the Gaṇas and attended by the Mothers (Mātṛs), seated upon a peacock and holding the excellent spear (śakti) in his hand, he was appointed by Bhava (Śiva) to the command of the army; possessed of a great radiance, he shone like the Sun.

Word by Word

• gaṇaiḥ: by the gaṇas (attendants)
• gaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛ (धातु) + ta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• mātṛbhiḥ: by the Mothers (Mātṛs)
• mātṛbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• anvayātaḥ: followed/attended
• anvayātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√i (धातु) + āta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त/क्तवत्-भाव), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); उपसर्ग: अनु-

• mayūra-saṃsthaḥ: seated on a peacock
• mayūra-saṃsthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mayūra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (locative sense: 'standing/placed on a peacock')

• vara-śakti-pāṇiḥ: having an excellent spear in hand
• vara-śakti-pāṇiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद (having a hand with an excellent spear)

• sainya-adhipatye: in the command of the army
• sainya-adhipatye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sainya (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative, 7th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष ('commandership of the army')

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• kṛtaḥ: was made/appointed
• kṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + ta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhavena: by Bhava (Śiva)
• bhavena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• rarāja: shone
• rarāja: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rāj (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• sūrya: the sun
• sūrya: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); उपमान (standard of comparison)

• iva: like/as
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• mahā-vapuṣmān: of great form/splendor
• mahā-vapuṣmān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vapuṣmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय ('great-bodied')

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Pulastya’s discourse (Pulastya to Nārada
• as indicated by the chapter colophon in the next verse)

Primary Deities

• Śiva (Bhava)
• Skanda/Kumāra
• Mātṛs
• Gaṇas

Key Themes

• Installation of Skanda as Senāpati
• Śaiva divine hierarchy (Gaṇas, Mātṛs)
• Iconography of Skanda (peacock, spear)
• Divine radiance and legitimacy

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Who is being described as seated on a peacock with a spear?

The iconographic markers—peacock mount (mayūra) and spear (śakti)—identify Kumāra/Skanda (also called Kārttikeya) as the subject, here portrayed at the moment of receiving military command.

What does ‘Bhava’ signify in this context?

Bhava is a well-known epithet of Śiva, emphasizing him as the authoritative source of the appointment; the verse frames Skanda’s command as sanctioned directly by Śiva.

Why are the Gaṇas and Mātṛs mentioned together?

They represent Śiva’s retinue and protective powers surrounding Skanda, signaling both ritual legitimacy (attendants witnessing the installation) and martial potency (Mātṛs as fierce guardians).