Shloka 12
भद्रवटगमनम् — स्कन्देन महिषदानवनिग्रहः
Bhadravaṭa Procession and Skanda’s Neutralization of Mahiṣa
सुमित्रं मित्रवन्तं च मित्रज्ञं मित्रवर्धनम् । मित्रधर्माणमित्येतान् देवानभ्यसृजत् तप:
sumitraṁ mitravantaṁ ca mitrajñaṁ mitravardhanam | mitradharmāṇam ity etān devān abhyasṛjat tapaḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Tapas, as though vested with creative might, brought forth these divine beings—Sumitra, Mitravān, Mitrajña, Mitravardhana, and Mitradharmā—embodiments of guardianship through friendship: the good friend, the one with friends, the knower of friendship, the increaser of friendship, and the upholder of friendship’s law.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates friendship to a dharmic principle: true social and moral order is protected by virtues such as being a good friend, sustaining friendships, discerning loyalty, strengthening bonds, and adhering to the ethical duties of friendship.
Markandeya describes how tapas (austerity/spiritual power) generates five divine, guardian-like personifications connected with friendship—each name representing a distinct facet of how friendship functions as a protective moral force.