Shloka 55

Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve

Gandharva Encounter

Devanagari script

अथाब्रवीन्महासेनं महादेवो बृहद्‌ वच: । सप्तमं मारुतस्कन्धं रक्ष नित्यमतन्द्रित:,तदनन्तर महादेवजीने कुमार महासेनसे यह उत्तम बात कही--“बेटा! तुम सदा सावधानीके साथ मारुतस्कन्ध नामक देवताओं के सातवें व्यूहकी रक्षा करना”

Transliteration

athābravīnmahāsenaṃ mahādevo bṛhad vacaḥ | saptamaṃ mārutaskandhaṃ rakṣa nityamatandritaḥ ||

Translation

Da sprach Mahādeva zu Kumāra Mahāsena mit gewichtigen Worten: „Wache unablässig, ohne Nachlässigkeit, über die siebte göttliche Schlachtordnung, genannt Māruta-skandha.“

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), 3, singular, परस्मैपद

• महासेनम्: to Mahāsena (Skanda/Kumāra)
• महासेनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• बृहद्: great, lofty
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• वचः: speech, words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• सप्तमम्: seventh
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• मारुतस्कन्धम्: the Maruta-skandha (named formation/array)
• मारुतस्कन्धम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुतस्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• रक्ष: protect, guard
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: लोट् (imperative), 2, singular, परस्मैपद

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)

• अतन्द्रितः: unwearied, vigilant
• अतन्द्रितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Mahāsena (Kumāra/Skanda)
• Māruta-skandha
• Maruts (wind-gods)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches vigilant fulfillment of entrusted duty: one must protect what is assigned—especially a sacred or strategic trust—continuously and without negligence (atandritaḥ).

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that Mahādeva (Śiva) gives a solemn instruction to Kumāra Mahāsena (Skanda), commanding him to guard the seventh divine formation called Māruta-skandha.