Shloka 44

चित्रसेनगन्धर्वैः कौरवसंनिपातः

Citrasena and the Kaurava engagement

Devanagari script

शतक्रतुश्चाभिषिच्य स्कन्दे सेनापतिं तदा

Transliteration

śatakratuś cābhiṣicya skande senāpatiṁ tadā

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya sprach: „Dann weihte Śatakratu (Indra) Skanda feierlich und setzte ihn damals zum Heerführer des Götterheeres ein.“

Word by Word

• शतक्रतुः: Śatakratu (Indra)
• शतक्रतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतक्रतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अभिषिच्य: having consecrated/anointed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√सिच्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• स्कन्दे: in/with regard to Skanda
• स्कन्दे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सेनापतिम्: commander of the army
• सेनापतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेनापति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Śatakratu (Indra)
• Skanda (Kārttikeya)
• Senāpati (office of commander of the army)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate authority is established through dharmic procedure: leadership—especially in war—should be conferred by rightful consecration and recognized appointment, not mere force or ambition.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that Indra (Śatakratu) performs an abhiṣeka-like consecration and formally installs Skanda as senāpati, indicating the gods’ organized preparation under a divinely sanctioned commander.