Vamana Purana — Birth of Skanda (Kartikeya), Shloka 84

The Birth and Consecration of Skanda (Kartikeya) at Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

कुटिला तनयस्यादाद दश शक्रबलान् गणान् करालं सितकेशं च कृष्णकेशं जटाधरम्

Transliteration

kuṭilā tanayasyādāda daśa śakrabalān gaṇān karālaṃ sitakeśaṃ ca kṛṣṇakeśaṃ jaṭādharam

Translation

Kuṭilā, pour son fils, prit dix gaṇas dotés de la vigueur de Śakra (Indra) — parmi eux Karāla, Sitakeśa et Kṛṣṇakeśa, le porteur de tresses emmêlées (jaṭādhara).

Word by Word

• कुटिला: Kuṭilā (a name)
• कुटिला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• तनयस्य: of (her) son
• तनयस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• आदाद: gave
• आदाद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; रूपम्—आ + दा → आदाद

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; अत्र विशेषणरूपेण (numeral adjective), द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे (gaṇān इत्यस्य)

• शक्रबलान्: Indra-like/Indra’s-strength (mighty)
• शक्रबलान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शक्रस्य बलम्/बलाः)

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

• करालम्: terrible, fierce
• करालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (गणम्/गणानां मध्ये एकं)

• सितकेशम्: white-haired
• सितकेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित-केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सिताः केशाः यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कृष्णकेशम्: black-haired
• कृष्णकेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण-केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (कृष्णाः केशाः यस्य)

• जटाधरम्: wearing matted locks
• जटाधरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा-धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (जटां धरति इति)

Speakers

• Narratorial voice within the Purāṇic dialogue frame (exact interlocutors not provided in prompt)

Primary Deities

• Shiva
• Indra (Shakra)

Key Themes

• Cataloguing of gaṇa-companies
• Indra as benchmark of martial power
• Śaiva iconography (jaṭā—matted hair)
• Mythic retinue-building for impending battle

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does ‘śakrabalān’ convey?

It is a comparative epithet: the gaṇas are described as possessing strength like Śakra (Indra). This does not make them Indra’s troops; it signals their formidable, deva-level power.

Are Karāla, Sitakeśa, and Kṛṣṇakeśa symbolic names?

Yes. Purāṇic gaṇa-names often encode appearance or temperament—‘Terrible’, ‘White-haired’, ‘Black-haired’—creating a vivid taxonomy of Śiva’s attendants and emphasizing their otherworldly diversity.

Why mention ‘jaṭādhara’ among gaṇas?

Matted locks are a hallmark of Śaiva ascetic power. Applying ‘jaṭādhara’ to a gaṇa aligns the troop with Śiva’s ascetic-martial identity, blending tapas (austerity) with battlefield potency.