Shloka 84
बालमड्कगतं कृत्वा स्वयं पञ्चशिखं पुन: । जिस समय वे तीनों पुरोंको दग्ध कर रहे थे, उस समय पार्वतीदेवी भी उन्हें देखनेके लिये एक पाँच शिखावाले बालकको गोदमें लेकर वहाँ गयीं ।। ८३ $ ।। उमा जिज्ञासमाना वै को<यमित्यब्रवीत् सुरान्
bālam aṅkagataṃ kṛtvā svayaṃ pañcaśikhaṃ punaḥ | umā jijñāsamānā vai ko ’yam ity abravīt surān ||
Vyāsa said: Taking into her lap a five-crested boy, Umā (Pārvatī), curious to know who he was, asked the gods about him. This occurs in the wider scene where the three cities are being burned, and even the divine household is drawn to witness the awe-inspiring act—yet Umā’s question highlights a moral attentiveness: power and spectacle do not eclipse discernment, and even among gods one should inquire into identity and purpose rather than assume.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid overwhelming displays of power, one should retain discernment and inquire into identity and intention; Umā’s jijñāsā models thoughtful attention rather than passive awe.
As the three cities are being burned (context), Umā arrives to witness the event, holding a five-crested boy in her lap, and she asks the assembled gods, “Who is this?”