Shloka 5
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
स्कन्द उवाच हव्यं कव्यं च यत्किंचिद् द्विजानां मन्त्रसंस्तुतम् । होष्यन्त्यग्नौ सदा देवि स्वाहेत्युक्त्वा समुद्धूतम्,स्कन्द बोले--देवि! आजसे सन्मार्गपर चलने-वाले सदाचारी धर्मात्मा मनुष्य देवताओं तथा पितरोंके लिये हव्य और कव्यके रूपमें उठाकर ब्राह्मणोंद्वारा उच्चारित वेदमन्त्रोंके साथ अग्निमें जो कुछ आहुति देंगे, वह सब स्वाहाका नाम लेकर ही अर्पण करेंगे। शोभने! इस प्रकार तुम्हारे साथ निरन्तर अग्निदेवका निवास बना रहेगा
skanda uvāca: havyaṃ kavyaṃ ca yat kiṃcid dvijānāṃ mantrasaṃstutam | hoṣyanty agnau sadā devi svāhety uktvā samuddhūtam ||
Skanda berkata: “Wahai Dewi, apa pun persembahan yang ada—baik havya bagi para dewa maupun kavya bagi para leluhur—yang dipuji dan disucikan oleh mantra-mantra Weda yang diucapkan para dvija, semuanya akan senantiasa dicurahkan ke dalam api sambil mengucap ‘svāhā’ ketika diangkat dan dipersembahkan. Dengan demikian, melalui laku yang benar, kehadiran Agni akan tetap teguh bersamamu.”
स्कन्द उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual action becomes dharmic and effective when performed in the proper Vedic manner: offerings meant for gods (havya) and ancestors (kavya) should be made into Agni with mantra-recitation by qualified priests and with the consecrating utterance ‘svāhā’. This preserves sacred order and sustains divine presence.
Skanda instructs the Goddess about the correct form of sacrificial offering: whatever is offered—whether to devas or pitṛs—should be lifted and poured into the fire while saying ‘svāhā’, accompanied by Vedic mantras recited by dvijas. The statement links righteous ritual practice with the continual abiding of Agni.