Shloka 48
कुमाराभिषेकप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Kumāra (Skanda) Investiture at Sarasvatī
जहाँ पूर्वकालमें साक्षात् राजाधिराज सोमने विधिपूर्वक राजसूय-यज्ञका अनुष्ठान किया था। उस श्रेष्ठ यजञ्ञमें बुद्धिमान विप्रवर महात्मा अत्रिने होताका कार्य किया था ।।
yatra pūrvakāle sākṣāt rājādhirājaḥ somo vidhivat rājasūya-yajñam anuṣṭhitavān | tasmin śreṣṭhe yajñe buddhimān vipravaro mahātmā atriṇe hotṛ-kāryaṃ kṛtavān || yasyānte 'bhūt sumahat dānavānāṃ daiteyānāṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca devaiḥ | yasmin yuddhe tārakākhyaṃ sutīvraṃ yatra skandas tārakākhyaṃ jaghāna ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : En ce lieu, jadis, Soma lui-même—suzerain parmi les rois—accomplit le sacrifice du Rājasūya selon l’ordre rituel prescrit. Dans ce sacrifice excellent, le sage et premier des brahmanes, le magnanime Atri, officia comme prêtre Hotṛ. À l’issue de ce rite s’éleva un immense conflit entre les dieux et les Dānavas, Daityas et Rākṣasas : une guerre farouche où Skanda abattit le redoutable démon nommé Tāraka.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links rightful sovereignty and ritual propriety (vidhivat rājasūya) with the maintenance of cosmic order: when dharma is upheld through correct rites and qualified priests, destructive forces are ultimately checked, symbolized by Skanda’s slaying of Tāraka.
Vaiśaṃpāyana recalls a sacred location where Soma once performed a Rājasūya with the sage Atri as Hotṛ; the recollection expands into a mythic memory of a great war between gods and demonic hosts, culminating in Skanda killing the demon Tāraka.