Shloka 20
भद्रवटगमनम् — स्कन्देन महिषदानवनिग्रहः
Bhadravaṭa Procession and Skanda’s Neutralization of Mahiṣa
मुमुदे परमप्रीतः सह पुत्र्महायशा:
mumude paramaprītaḥ saha putrair mahāyaśāḥ | tapasaḥ putrā ye rathantara-nāmāgnayaḥ kathyante, tebhyo dattā haviḥ mitravinda-devatāyā bhāga iti yajuḥ-vedavido manyante | mahāyaśas tapo (pāñcajanyaḥ) sa sarvaiḥ putraiḥ saha atyanta-prasanna ānandamagno babhūva ||
Mārkaṇḍeya berkata: Tapas yang termasyhur, diliputi sukacita yang tak terhingga, bersukaria bersama putra-putranya. Persembahan (havi) yang dipersembahkan kepada api-api itu—yang dikenal sebagai putra-putra Tapas dan menyandang nama Rathantara—oleh para ahli Yajurveda dipandang sebagai bagian milik dewa Mitravinda. Demikianlah Tapas (yang juga disebut Pāñcajanya), dikelilingi semua putranya, tetap amat puas dan tenggelam dalam kegembiraan.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the Vedic principle that offerings in sacrifice are not arbitrary: each oblation has a designated divine recipient, as preserved and interpreted by authoritative ritual knowledge (here, Yajurvedic experts). Proper allocation of the ‘bhāga’ sustains sacred order and brings auspicious satisfaction.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes Tapas rejoicing with his sons, identified with specific ritual fires called ‘Rathantara.’ The oblation given to these fires is explained as belonging to the deity Mitravinda, according to Yajurvedic tradition, and Tapas remains delighted with all his sons.