Varaha Purana 25.38: Adhyaya 25, Shloka 38
The Birth of Ahaṅkāra as Guha/Skanda and His Appointment as Divine Commander
Pūrva Bhāga · Narrative Dialogue (Deva–Kumāra Episode)
श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य महानुभावो महादेवो वाक्यमिदं जगाद । ददामि ते क्रीडनकं तु कुक्कुटं तथानुगौ शाखविशाखसंज्ञौ । कुमार भूतग्रहणायको भवान् भवस्व देवेश्वर सेनयापतिः ॥ २५.३८ ॥
śrutvā vacas tasya mahānubhāvo mahādevo vākyam idaṃ jagāda | dadāmi te krīḍanakaṃ tu kukkuṭaṃ tathānugau śākhaviśākhasaṃjñau | kumāra bhūtagrahaṇāyako bhavān bhavasva deveśvara senayāpatiḥ || 25.38 ||
shrutvA vachastasy mahAnubhAvo mahAdevo vAkyamidaM jagAda | dadAmi te krIDanakaM tu kukkuTaM tathAnugau shAkhavishAkhasaMj~nau | kumAra bhUtagrahanAyako bhavAn bhavasva deveshvara senayApatiH || 25.38 ||
महादेव ने उसकी बात सुनी। उन्होंने कहा, मैं तुम्हे एक मुर्गा देता हूँ खेलने के लिए। और दो साथी भी देता हूँ, शाखा और विशाखा। तुम भूतों का लीडर बनो और देवतों की सेना का सेनापति बनो।
Sandhi Notes
- वचस्तस्य→वचः+तस्य
- वाक्यमिदं→वाक्यम्+इदम्
- तथानुगौ→तथा+अनुगौ
- शाखविशाखसंज्ञौ→शाख-विशाख-संज्ञौ (compound)
- भूतग्रहणायको→भूतग्रहणायकः (visarga sandhi/orthography)
Mahādeva (Śiva)
Adhikāra (fitness/authorization) and niyoga (commission) legitimize power; leadership is service to cosmic order rather than personal dominance.
Treat roles (military/administrative/community) as entrusted duties; accept symbols/resources as responsibility, not entitlement.
A qualified leader is formally invested with insignia (dhvaja/vehicle/attendants) and appointed as senāpati to command and protect the collective (devasenā/bhūtas).
Proper appointment sustains order and victory; neglect of rightful command leads to disorder among troops/gaṇas and vulnerability to hostile forces.
Varāha Purāṇa 25.25.39-42 (stuti and confirmation of senāpati role)
FAQs
It reflects a Purāṇic pattern of legitimizing divine and royal offices through narrative appointment—here, Kumāra/Skanda is formally invested with military command (senāpati) and leadership over attendant hosts (bhūtas), illustrating how authority is framed through mythic dialogue.
No geographic toponym appears in this verse; the content is role-bestowal within a mythic setting rather than a sacred-geography notice.
The verse foregrounds the principle of delegated responsibility: authority (leadership and command) is conferred in relation to service—organizing forces and maintaining order—rather than as a purely personal privilege.
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