Vamana Purana — Birth of Skanda (Kartikeya), Shloka 48

The Birth and Consecration of Skanda (Kartikeya) at Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

प्रणिपत्य च कामारिमुमां च गिरिनन्दिनीम् दृष्ट्वा हुताशनं प्रीत्या कुटिलां कृत्तिकास्तथा

Transliteration

praṇipatya ca kāmārimumāṃ ca girinandinīm dṛṣṭvā hutāśanaṃ prītyā kuṭilāṃ kṛttikāstathā

Translation

And having bowed down to Kāmāri (Śiva) and to Umā, the Daughter of the Mountain (Pārvatī), and upon seeing Hutāśana (Agni), the Kṛttikās too—Kuṭilā and the others—approached with affectionate joy.

Word by Word

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down
• प्रणिपत्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) + प्र + नि (उपसर्गौ) + ल्यप् (क्त्वान्त-सम)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कामारिम्: the enemy of Kāma (Śiva)
• कामारिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + अरि (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'kāmasya ariḥ'); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• उमाम्: Umā (Pārvatī)
• उमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• गिरिनन्दिनीम्: daughter of the mountain
• गिरिनन्दिनीम्: Karma (कर्म; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + नन्दिनी (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'gireḥ nandinī'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; उमायाः विशेषण/पर्याय

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• हुताशनम्: fire (Agni)
• हुताशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुत + अशन्/अशन (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (कर्मधारय/उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'hutaṃ aśnāti' → fire); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• प्रीत्या: with joy
• प्रीत्या: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental); एकवचन; भावे (by/with joy)

• कुटिलाम्: crooked / oblique
• कुटिलाम्: Karma (कर्म; adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुटिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'कृत्तिकाः' understood collectively/one group)

• कृत्तिकाः: the Kṛttikās (Pleiades)
• कृत्तिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speakers

• Narrative voice describing the deities’ gestures of reverence toward Śiva and Umā
• and the affectionate presence/approach of the Kṛttikās upon seeing Agni.

Primary Deities

• Śiva (Kāmāri)
• Umā/Pārvatī (Girinandinī)
• Agni (Hutāśana)
• Kṛttikās (including Kuṭilā)

Key Themes

• Reverence (praṇipāta) to Śiva-Śakti
• Agni’s ritual-central role
• Kṛttikās as maternal figures in Skanda’s mythos
• Shaiva mythic network around Skanda’s origins

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shringara", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Why is Śiva called ‘Kāmāri’ in this context?

‘Kāmāri’ recalls the well-known episode where Śiva burns Kāma (the god of desire). The epithet underscores Śiva’s ascetic mastery and the subordination of desire—an important theological backdrop to narratives involving divine birth and cosmic conflict.

Who are the Kṛttikās, and why are they associated with affection here?

The Kṛttikās (Pleiades) are portrayed in Purāṇic traditions as nurturing figures connected to Skanda/Kārttikeya’s early care. Their affectionate approach signals their maternal/guardian role within the Skanda cycle.

Does ‘Girinandinī’ identify a specific sacred geography?

Not by itself. It indicates Pārvatī’s identity as ‘daughter of the mountain’ (commonly linked to the Himālaya in broader tradition), but this verse does not name a particular mountain, tīrtha, river, or forest.