Shloka 14
Duryodhana Seized by Citraseṇa; Kaurava Petition to Yudhiṣṭhira (दुर्योधनापहारः / चित्रसेनगन्धर्वग्रहणम्)
मार्कण्डेय उदाच अथ मातृगण: सर्व: स्कन्दं वचनमत्रवीत् | वयं सर्वस्य लोकस्य मातर: कविश्नि: स्तुता: । इच्छामो मातरस्तुभ्यं भवितुं पूजयस्व न:,मार्कण्डेयजी कहते हैं--राजन्! तदनन्तर समस्त मातृगणोंने आकर स्कन्दसे कहा --<बेटा! दिद्वानोंने हमें सम्पूर्ण लोकोंकी माताएँ कहकर हमारी स्तुति की है। अब हम तुम्हारी माता होना चाहती हैं। तुम मातृभावसे हमारा पूजन करो”
Skanda uvāca — Mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: atha mātṛgaṇaḥ sarvaḥ Skandaṃ vacanam abravīt | vayaṃ sarvasya lokasya mātaraḥ kavibhiḥ stutāḥ | icchāmo mātaraḥ tubhyaṃ bhavituṃ pūjayasva naḥ ||
قال ماركانديّا: ثم إن جموع الأمهات كلّهنّ تقدّمن إلى سكَندَا وقلن: «لقد أثنى علينا الحكماء بوصفنا أمهاتِ العوالم كلّها. والآن نرغب أن نصير أمهاتٍ لك أنت أيضًا. فكرّمنا واعبدنا بإجلالٍ يليق بالأمّ».
स्कन्द उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames reverence (pūjā) as an ethical duty grounded in relationship: those acclaimed as universal Mothers request to be honored with maternal regard. It highlights how sacred authority (the sages’ praise) and devotional practice together establish a bond of protection and obligation.
Mārkaṇḍeya reports that the collective Mothers (mātṛgaṇa) approach Skanda and ask to be accepted as his mothers too, requesting that he worship them in a motherly spirit—formalizing their connection to him through ritual honor.