Shloka 19
Āstravidyā-Pradarśana: The Kuru Princes’ Public Demonstration of Arms (आस्त्रविद्या-प्रदर्शनम्)
नामानि चक्रिरे तेषां शतशूड्रनिवासिन: । भक्त्या च कर्मणा चैव तथाशीर्भिविशाम्पते,तदनन्तर शतशुंगनिवासी ऋषियोंने उन सबके नामकरण-संस्कार किये। उन्हें आशीर्वाद देते हुए उनकी भक्ति और कर्मके अनुसार उनके नाम रखे
nāmāni cakrire teṣāṃ śataśūḍranivāsinaḥ | bhaktyā ca karmaṇā caiva tathāśīrbhir viśāṃpate ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: The sages dwelling in Śataśūḍra performed the naming rites for them. Best of kings, while bestowing blessings, they assigned names in accordance with each one’s devotion and conduct.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links a person’s name and social recognition to moral-spiritual qualities: devotion (bhakti) and conduct (karma). It implies that identity is ideally grounded in character and action, and that blessings accompany righteous formation through saṃskāra.
Resident sages of Śataśūḍra carry out the naming rite (nāmakaraṇa) for certain individuals, giving them names while offering blessings, and choosing those names in keeping with each person’s devotion and deeds.