Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

चक्र विक्रमकं चैव संक्रमं च महाबलम्‌ | स्कन्दाय त्रीननुचरान्‌ ददौ विष्णुर्महायशा:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

chakra-vikramakaṃ caiva saṃkramaṃ ca mahābalam |

skandāya trīn anucarān dadau viṣṇur mahāyaśāḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The illustrious Lord Viṣṇu bestowed upon Skanda three attendant powers—Cakra, Vikramaka, and the mighty Saṃkrama. In the narrative frame, the gods stand in reverent support around the youthful war-god, and Viṣṇu’s gift signifies that divine strength is to be ordered and delegated in the service of cosmic protection, not personal pride.

Word by Word

• चक्र: Chakra (name of an attendant)
• चक्र: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विक्रमकम्: Vikramaka (name of an attendant)
• विक्रमकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रमक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• संक्रमम्: Saṅkrama (name of an attendant)
• संक्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• महाबलम्: very strong (one)
• महाबलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• स्कन्दाय: to Skanda
• स्कन्दाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अनुचरान्: attendants/followers
• अनुचरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुचर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ददौ: gave
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महायशाः: of great fame
• महायशाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायशस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• 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/attended
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ
• Form: Past passive participle (kta), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Viṣṇu
• Skanda (Kārttikeya)
• Cakra (attendant/power)
• Vikramaka (attendant/power)
• Saṃkrama (attendant/power)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power is portrayed as something to be entrusted and structured under dharmic purpose: Viṣṇu’s granting of attendants to Skanda symbolizes disciplined strength placed in service of protection and right order, not ego or chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a scene where Skanda is being honored and equipped: Viṣṇu formally grants him three personified attendant-forces—Cakra, Vikramaka, and the mighty Saṃkrama—marking Skanda’s empowerment and recognition among the divine powers.