Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 112

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

Devanagari script

महाबला महावेगा महापारिषदास्तथा | अभिषेक कुमारस्य दृष्टवा हृष्टा रणप्रिया:

Transliteration

mahābalā mahāvegā mahāpāriṣadās tathā | abhiṣekaṃ kumārasya dṛṣṭvā hṛṣṭā raṇapriyāḥ ||

Translation

Vaishampayana said: Mighty in strength, swift in onset, and eminent among the assembled chiefs as well, they—fond of battle—rejoiced upon witnessing the prince’s consecration. The scene underscores how royal legitimacy and public recognition can inflame martial enthusiasm, binding political order to the energies of war.

Word by Word

• महाबलाः: very strong (ones)
• महाबलाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महावेगाः: very swift/impetuous (ones)
• महावेगाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावेग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महापारिषदाः: great councilors/attendants (of the assembly)
• महापारिषदाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापारिषद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: and also/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अभिषेकम्: consecration/anointing
• अभिषेकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कुमारस्य: of the prince
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• हृष्टाः: delighted/overjoyed
• हृष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रणप्रियाः: fond of battle
• रणप्रियाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रणप्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• kumāra (the prince)
• abhiṣeka (consecration/royal anointing)
• pāriṣadāḥ (assembly/council members)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the social power of royal consecration: public recognition of a prince’s status can unify elites and energize them toward action. Ethically, it hints at the double-edged nature of legitimacy—capable of stabilizing order, yet also capable of intensifying warlike impulses when the audience is raṇapriya (battle-inclined).

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of eminent, powerful, and swift warriors/council-members witness the prince’s abhiṣeka (consecration/installation). Seeing this ceremonial affirmation, they become delighted and उत्साहित, especially because they are inclined toward battle.