Vamana Purana — Birth of Skanda (Kartikeya), Shloka 62

The Birth and Consecration of Skanda (Kartikeya) at Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

हरदत्तान् गणान् दृष्ट्वा देवाः स्कन्दस्य नारद प्रददुः प्रमथान् स्वान् स्वान् सर्वे ब्रह्मपुरोगमाः

Transliteration

haradattān gaṇān dṛṣṭvā devāḥ skandasya nārada pradaduḥ pramathān svān svān sarve brahmapurogamāḥ

Translation

“O Nārada, seeing the gaṇas bestowed by Hara (Śiva), the gods—Brahmā at their head—each offered his own pramathas (attendant-spirits) to Skanda.”

Word by Word

• हरदत्तान्: given by Hara (Śiva)
• हरदत्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरदत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हरस्य दत्ताः)

• गणान्: attendants, troops
• गणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाले (having seen)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्कन्दस्य: of Skanda
• स्कन्दस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा एकवचन (contextually vocative: addressing Nārada)

• प्रददुः: gave
• प्रददुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रमथान्: Pramathas (Śiva’s attendants)
• प्रमथान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्वान्: their own
• स्वान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; आत्मीयार्थे (one’s own)

• स्वान्: each (one’s) own
• स्वान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बल (each his own)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मपुरोगमाः: those led by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मपुरोगमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + पुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (ब्रह्मा पुरोगमो येषां ते)

Speakers

• Narrator addressing Nārada (explicit vocative)
• recounting the gods’ actions toward Skanda.

Primary Deities

• Skanda
• Śiva (Hara)
• Brahmā
• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Divine delegation of power
• Formation of Skanda’s army
• Śaiva martial cosmology
• Inter-deity cooperation

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the distinction between gaṇa and pramatha here?

Gaṇa is a broad term for attendant-troops; pramatha is a more specific Śaiva class of fierce attendants. The verse suggests that, inspired by Śiva’s gift of gaṇas, the other devas contribute their own attendant-forces (pramathas) to Skanda.

Why is Brahmā singled out as ‘at the head’ (brahmapurogamāḥ)?

It marks formal leadership and consensus among the devas. In Purāṇic polity, Brahmā often presides over collective divine decisions, even when the operational command is given to another deity (here, Skanda).

What does this imply about Skanda’s role in the Andhaka cycle?

Skanda is positioned as a central military leader whose force is pan-deva in composition—Śaiva gaṇas plus attendants contributed by other gods—underscoring the cosmic scale of the conflict.