Shloka 61

Kārttikeya-Abhiṣecana: Mātṛgaṇa-Nāma Saṃkīrtana and Skanda’s Commission

Devanagari script

ज्वालाजिह्ठवः करालाक्ष: शितिकेशो जटी हरि: । परिश्रुत: कोकनद: कृष्णकेशो जटाधर:

Transliteration

jvālājihṭhavaḥ karālākṣaḥ śitikēśo jaṭī hariḥ | pariśrutaḥ kokanadaḥ kṛṣṇakeśo jaṭādharaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Er war durch viele furchterregende und eindringliche Beinamen berühmt: ‚Flammenzüngiger‘, ‚Schreckensblick‘, ‚Weißhaariger‘, ‚Verfilzthaariger‘, ‚Fahlgelber (löwengleich)‘, ‚Weithin Gerühmter‘, ‚Lotusgleicher‘, ‚Schwarzhaariger‘ und ‚Träger verfilzter Locken‘.“

Word by Word

ज्वालाजिह्ठवःhaving a flame-like tongue

करालाक्षःhaving terrible eyes

शितिकेशःhaving gray/whitish hair

जटीone with matted locks (ascetic)

हरिःHari (a name of Vishnu/Shiva, the tawny one)

परिश्रुतःwell-renowned, widely heard of

कोकनदःKokanada (a name; also 'red lotus')

कृष्णकेशःhaving black hair

जटाधरःbearing matted locks

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how epic narration uses epithets to convey character and moral atmosphere: reputation and perceived power can sway courage, fear, and choices on the battlefield, reminding readers that ethical conduct in war is shaped not only by weapons but also by fame, intimidation, and self-mastery.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a formidable figure through a sequence of vivid epithets—focusing on appearance (eyes, hair, matted locks) and renown—heightening the dramatic tension typical of Shalya Parva’s war setting.