Shloka 181

Umā’s Austerity, Kauśikī’s Manifestation, and Skanda’s Birth Leading to Tāraka’s Defeat

Devanagari script

जयातुलशक्तिदीधितिपंजरभुजदंडप्रचंडतर । रभससुरवदनकुमुदविकासनविलासनेत्र कुमारवर

Transliteration

jayātulaśaktidīdhitipaṃjarabhujadaṃḍapracaṃḍatara | rabhasasuravadanakumudavikāsanavilāsanetra kumāravara

Translation

Sieg dir, erhabener Prinz Kumāra: Deine Arme sind wie mächtige Stäbe, furchtbar in unwiderstehlicher Kraft und strahlend wie ein Käfig aus loderndem Licht; deine spielenden Augen lassen die lotusgleichen Antlitze der Devas sogleich erblühen.

Word by Word

• जय-अतुल-शक्ति-दीधिति-पंजर-भुज-दण्ड-प्रचण्डतर: O one whose arm-staff is exceedingly fierce, caged in the radiance of incomparable victory-power
• जय-अतुल-शक्ति-दीधिति-पंजर-भुज-दण्ड-प्रचण्डतर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन) (कुमारवरस्य विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + अतुल (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + दीधिति (प्रातिपदिक) + पंजर (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रचण्डतर (प्रातिपदिक; प्रचण्ड + तरप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (सम्बोधनार्थे प्रथमा-प्रयोगः); बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य भुजदण्डः (भुजयोः दण्डवत् बाहुः) जयेन अतुलया शक्त्या दीधितिपंजरवत् (प्रभा-जालवत्) प्रचण्डतरः सः; ‘तर’ = comparative suffix

• रभस-सुर-वदन-कुमुद-विकासन-विलास-नेत्र: O one whose eyes playfully make the lotus-like faces of the gods bloom swiftly
• रभस-सुर-वदन-कुमुद-विकासन-विलास-नेत्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन) (कुमारवरस्य विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रभस (प्रातिपदिक) + सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक) + कुमुद (प्रातिपदिक) + विकासन (प्रातिपदिक) + विलास (प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (सम्बोधनार्थे); बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य नेत्रे रभसेन (वेगेन) सुरवदन-कुमुदस्य (देवमुख-कुमुदस्य) विकासन-विलासः (प्रफुल्लन-लालित्यम्) इव; अर्थात् ‘देवमुख-कुमुदं प्रफुल्लयितुं समर्थ-लावण्ययुक्तनेत्रः’

• कुमार-वर: O best of youths/princes
• कुमार-वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-एकवचन (vocative singular); कर्मधारयः (वरः कुमारः = श्रेष्ठः कुमारः)

Speaker

Unspecified (verse functions as a benedictory/praise address to Kumāra/Skanda within the narrative)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Stuti (praise) focuses the mind on divine power; devotion transforms fear into courage and aligns the community with dharma’s champion.

Application: In moments of challenge, replace rumination with remembrance of the divine (nāma/stuti); let admiration of virtue kindle your own steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kumāra stands poised, youthful yet terrifyingly powerful, his arms like thunderbolts wrapped in a sheath of blazing light. His eyes, playful and compassionate, turn toward the gods—at once their fear dissolves and their lotus-like faces bloom with renewed hope.","primary_figures":["Kumāra/Skanda","Devas (collective)"],"setting":"Celestial battlefield edge with banners, spears, and a luminous horizon","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sunfire gold","lotus pink","sapphire blue","white jasmine","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Kumāra as a youthful warrior with radiant aureole, arms emphasized like powerful staffs, gold-leaf flames forming a ‘cage of light’; Devas with lotus-like faces blooming in joy; rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments, intricate gold work on armor and halo.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical depiction of youthful Kumāra with refined features, soft yet intense gaze; Devas arranged in gentle arcs like opening lotuses; cool sky gradients, delicate brushwork, subtle shimmer on weapons and ornaments.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, iconic large eyes for Kumāra, radiant yellow halo, red and green costume blocks; Devas shown with stylized lotus-face motifs, rhythmic composition like a temple wall panel.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central youthful deity with ornate floral borders; lotus motifs echoing ‘kumuda-vikāsa’; deep blue background with gold highlights, symmetrical arrangement of Devas like a devotional assembly, intricate textile patterns."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","temple bells","war-drums","cheering devas","resonant chanting"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: दीधितिपंजर = दीधिति-पंजर; भुजदंड = भुज-दण्ड; प्रचंडतर = प्रचण्ड-तर; रभससुरवदनकुमुदविकासनविलासनेत्र = रभस-सुर-वदन-कुमुद-विकासन-विलास-नेत्र; कुमारवर = कुमार-वर (सम्बोधन)

Characters & Entities

• Kumāra (Skanda/Kārttikeya)

FAQs

Who is addressed as “Kumāravara” in this verse?

“Kumāravara” commonly denotes Kumāra/Skanda (Kārttikeya), praised here as an exemplary, victorious divine youth/commander.

What is the main poetic image used to describe the deity’s power?

The verse compares his arms to crushing staffs/rods and his energy to intense radiance, emphasizing irresistible, fearsome strength tempered by divine splendor.

What is the ethical or devotional takeaway of this shloka?

It models stuti (praise) as a devotional act: acknowledging divine strength and auspicious presence, and invoking victory through remembrance and reverent address.