Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — Skanda’s Consecration

Devanagari script

क्रियापरा यज्ञपतिं च स्तुत्वा विनेमुरेवं त्वमराधिपाद्याः एवं तदा षड्वदनस्तु सेन्द्रान् उवाच तुष्टश्च गुहस्ततस्तान् निरीक्ष्य नेत्रैरमलैः सुरेशाञ् शत्रून्हनिष्यामि गतज्वराः स्थ //

Transliteration

kriyāparā yajñapatiṃ ca stutvā vinemurevaṃ tvamarādhipādyāḥ evaṃ tadā ṣaḍvadanastu sendrān uvāca tuṣṭaśca guhastatastān nirīkṣya netrairamalaiḥ sureśāñ śatrūnhaniṣyāmi gatajvarāḥ stha //

Translation

Intent on sacred rites, the chiefs of the gods—having praised the Lord of sacrifice—bowed in this manner. Then the six-faced Guha (Skanda), pleased, looked upon Indra and the other lords of the gods with spotless eyes and said: “I shall slay the enemies; be free from fevered fear and stand firm.”

Word by Word

• क्रियापराः: devoted to ritual acts

• यज्ञपतिम्: the Lord of sacrifice (protector of yajña)

• स्तुत्वा: having praised

• विनेमुः: they bowed

• एवम्: thus

• तदा: then

• षड्वदनः: the six-faced one

• तु: indeed

• सेन्द्रान्: together with Indra

• उवाच: said

• तुष्टः: pleased

• च: and

• गुहः: Guha (Skanda/Kārttikeya)

• ततः: then

• तान्: them

• निरीक्ष्य: having looked upon

• नेत्रैः: with eyes

• अमलैः: spotless/pure

• सुरेशान्: lords of the gods

• शत्रून्: enemies

• हनिष्यामि: I will slay

• गतज्वराः: free from fever/anguish (fear)

• स्थ: stand/remain (steadfast).

Speaker

• Guha (Skanda/Kartikeya)

Entities Mentioned

• Guha (Skanda/Kartikeya)
• Indra
• Sureshas (lords of the gods)
• Yajñapati (Lord of sacrifice)

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Skanda
• Yajna
• Divine reassurance
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse is not about pralaya; it occurs in a martial-epic context where Skanda reassures Indra and the gods, emphasizing divine protection rather than cosmic dissolution.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It models dharma in crisis: leaders first uphold ritual order (praise of the yajña’s lord) and then act decisively against threats—paralleling a king’s duty to protect society after honoring sacred and ethical obligations.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual note is central: the gods are described as kriyāparāḥ (devoted to rites) and they praise the Yajñapati, highlighting yajña as a stabilizing power that precedes and sanctifies decisive action.