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Shloka 14

Skanda-janma: Śivā/Svāhā, Agni, and the Manifestation of Guha

Mahābhārata 3.214

अग्निवेगवह:ः प्राणो गुदान्ते प्रतिहन्यते । स ऊर्ध्वमागम्य पुन: समुत्क्षिपति पावकम्‌,गुदासे प्राण अग्निके वेगको लेकर गुदान्तमें टकराता है, फिर वहाँसे ऊपरको उठकर वह जठराग्निको भी ऊपर उठाता है

agnivegavahaḥ prāṇo gudānte pratihanyate | sa ūrdhvam āgamya punaḥ samutkṣipati pāvakam |

يشرح الصيّادُ نقطةً فسيولوجية ليُرسّخ تعليمه الأخلاقي في واقع المعاش: فالنَّفَسُ الحيوي، المدفوع بقوةٍ كقوة النار، يصطدم عند نهاية الغودا؛ ثم يعود صاعدًا، فيُحرّك ويرفع النارَ الباطنة—حرارة الهضم. وتُفهم من ذلك دلالةٌ مفادها أن وظائف الجسد تجري وفق قانونٍ منظّم؛ ولذلك ينبغي للانضباط وضبط النفس أن يتّسقا مع ذلك النظام الطبيعي، لا مع الدافع العابر.

अग्निवेगवहःthe carrier of the fire’s impulse/force
अग्निवेगवहः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअग्निवेगवह (प्रातिपदिक; अग्नि+वेग+वह)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्राणःthe vital breath (prāṇa)
प्राणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गुदान्तेat the end of the rectum/anus
गुदान्ते:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootगुदान्त (प्रातिपदिक; गुद+अन्त)
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
प्रतिहन्यतेis struck/checked (collides)
प्रतिहन्यते:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति-हन् (धातु: हन्)
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Ātmanepada, Passive/impersonal (karmani-prayoga)
सःhe/that (prāṇa)
सः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ऊर्ध्वम्upwards
ऊर्ध्वम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
आगम्यhaving come (up)
आगम्य:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootआ-गम् (धातु: गम्)
FormAbsolutive (त्वान्त/ल्यप्), Parasmaipada/neutral
पुनःagain
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः (अव्यय)
समुत्क्षिपतिlifts up/throws up
समुत्क्षिपति:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-उत्-क्षिप् (धातु: क्षिप्)
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada, Active
पावकम्the fire (digestive fire)
पावकम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपावक (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

व्याध उवाच

व्याध (the hunter, speaker)
प्राण (vital breath)
पावक/जठराग्नि (inner fire, digestive fire)
गुदान्त (rectal end/anus-region)

Educational Q&A

The verse uses the ordered movement of prāṇa and the kindling of inner fire as an analogy: just as the body functions according to a lawful rhythm, ethical life should be governed by discipline and dharma rather than by uncontrolled urges.

In the hunter’s instruction (vyādha’s discourse), he explains how prāṇa moves within the body—striking at the lower end and then rising to stimulate the inner fire—supporting a broader moral teaching about regulated living.