Shloka 18
भद्रवटगमनम् — स्कन्देन महिषदानवनिग्रहः
Bhadravaṭa Procession and Skanda’s Neutralization of Mahiṣa
बृहदुक्थस्तपस्यैव पुत्रो भूमिमुपाश्रित: । अन्निहाोत्रे हूयमाने पृथिव्यां सद्धिरिज्यते
bṛhadukthas tapasy eva putro bhūmim upāśritaḥ | agnihotre hūyamāne pṛthivyāṃ sadhir ijyate ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Bṛhaduktha, the son of Tapas, remains established upon the earth. And when the Agnihotra is being offered on the earth, he is duly worshipped there by the virtuous and accomplished.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms that the maintenance of sacred duty—especially the Agnihotra—sustains dharma and becomes the occasion for honoring worthy beings; reverence and ritual responsibility reinforce moral and cosmic order.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes Bṛhaduktha, identified as Tapas’s son, as dwelling upon the earth and being honored by virtuous people at the time when Agnihotra offerings are performed.