Shloka 14
Duryodhana Seized by Citraseṇa; Kaurava Petition to Yudhiṣṭhira (दुर्योधनापहारः / चित्रसेनगन्धर्वग्रहणम्)
मार्कण्डेय उदाच अथ मातृगण: सर्व: स्कन्दं वचनमत्रवीत् | वयं सर्वस्य लोकस्य मातर: कविश्नि: स्तुता: । इच्छामो मातरस्तुभ्यं भवितुं पूजयस्व न:,मार्कण्डेयजी कहते हैं--राजन्! तदनन्तर समस्त मातृगणोंने आकर स्कन्दसे कहा --<बेटा! दिद्वानोंने हमें सम्पूर्ण लोकोंकी माताएँ कहकर हमारी स्तुति की है। अब हम तुम्हारी माता होना चाहती हैं। तुम मातृभावसे हमारा पूजन करो”
Skanda uvāca — Mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: atha mātṛgaṇaḥ sarvaḥ Skandaṃ vacanam abravīt | vayaṃ sarvasya lokasya mātaraḥ kavibhiḥ stutāḥ | icchāmo mātaraḥ tubhyaṃ bhavituṃ pūjayasva naḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then the entire host of the Mothers approached Skanda and spoke: “We have been praised by the sages as the Mothers of all the worlds. Now we wish to become mothers to you as well. Therefore, honor and worship us with the reverence due to mothers.”
स्कन्द उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames reverence (pūjā) as an ethical duty grounded in relationship: those acclaimed as universal Mothers request to be honored with maternal regard. It highlights how sacred authority (the sages’ praise) and devotional practice together establish a bond of protection and obligation.
Mārkaṇḍeya reports that the collective Mothers (mātṛgaṇa) approach Skanda and ask to be accepted as his mothers too, requesting that he worship them in a motherly spirit—formalizing their connection to him through ritual honor.