Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

बहुलत्वाच्च नोक्ता ये विविधा देवतागणा: । ते कुमाराभिषेकार्थ समाजग्मुस्ततस्तत:

Transliteration

bahulatvācca noktā ye vividhā devatāgaṇāḥ | te kumārābhiṣekārthaṃ samājagmustatastataḥ || rudrairvasubhirādityairaśvibhyāṃ ca vṛtaḥ prabhuḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Because they were so numerous, the many different hosts of gods are not all named here. Yet all of them—coming from every direction—assembled for the consecration (abhiṣeka) of Kumāra (Kārttikeya). The Lord stood surrounded by the Rudras, the Vasus, the Ādityas, and the two Aśvins, as the divine community gathered in reverent order to honor and install him.

Word by Word

• बहुलत्वात्: because of multitude
• बहुलत्वात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहुलत्व
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

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

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• उक्ताः: mentioned/said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, kta (past passive participle)

• ये: who/which
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विविधाः: various
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• देवतागणाः: groups of deities
• देवतागणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवतागण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कुमाराभिषेक-अर्थम्: for the consecration of Kumāra
• कुमाराभिषेक-अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमाराभिषेकार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समाजग्मुः: assembled/came together
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + गम्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• ततः: from various places/again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• रुद्रैः: by/with the Rudras
• रुद्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वसुभिः: by/with the Vasus
• वसुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आदित्यैः: by/with the Ādityas
• आदित्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अश्विभ्याम्: by/with the two Aśvins
• अश्विभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

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

• वृतः: surrounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वरणे)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, kta (past passive participle)

• प्रभुः: the lord
• प्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Kumāra (Kārttikeya/Skanda)
• Devatā-gaṇas (hosts of gods)
• Rudras
• Vasus
• Ādityas
• Aśvinau (the Aśvin twins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how legitimate authority and honor are affirmed through collective recognition and proper ritual: even divine power is publicly established by orderly assembly, reverence, and consecration.

What is happening in the narrative?

A vast multitude of gods gathers from all directions to perform the abhiṣeka (consecration) of Kumāra (Kārttikeya). He is depicted standing encircled by major divine classes—Rudras, Vasus, Ādityas, and the Aśvin twins—signaling a grand, universally endorsed installation.