Shloka 7
Karṇa’s Counsel on Śrī
Fortune) and the Proposed Display before the Exiled Pāṇḍavas (कर्णवचनम् / श्रीप्रदर्शन-प्रस्तावः
मार्कण्डेय उदाच ततो<ग्निरुपयेमे तां शिवां प्रीतिमुदायुतः । प्रीत्या देवी समायुक्ता शुक्र जग्राह पाणिना,मार्कण्डेयजी कहते हैं--राजन! तब अग्निदेवने प्रेम और प्रसन्नताके साथ उस शिवाको हृदयसे लगाया। (शिवाके रूपमें) “स्वाहा” देवीने प्रेमपूर्वक अग्निदेवसे समागम करके उनके वीर्यको हाथमें ले लिया
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tato 'gnir upayeme tāṃ śivāṃ prītim udāyutaḥ | prītyā devī samāyuktā śukraṃ jagrāha pāṇinā ||
Mārkaṇḍeya berkata, “Wahai Raja, kemudian Agni, dipenuhi cinta dan sukacita, menerima Śivā itu sebagai permaisuri dan memeluknya. Sang dewi—(dalam wujud Svāhā)—bersatu dengannya dalam kasih dan menampung benih Agni di telapak tangannya.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical-cosmic idea that immense power (śukra/tejas) should be received and regulated through a fitting vessel and intention; when guided by proper agency, it contributes to order rather than chaos.
Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that Agni unites with an auspicious goddess—identified as Svāhā in the guise of Śivā—and she receives Agni’s generative essence in her hand, a detail that prepares for subsequent mythic developments involving that potency.