Shloka 44
गन्धसत्रगग्रयासनपान भो ज नै- रभ्यर्चितां पाण्डुसुतै: प्रयत्नात् । सांवर्तकाग्निप्रतिमां ज्वलन्तीं कृत्यामथर्वाज्धिरसीमिवोग्राम्,पाण्डवोंने गन्ध (चन्दन), माला, उत्तम आसन, पेयपदार्थ और भोजन आदि अर्पण करके सदा प्रयत्नपूर्वक उसकी पूजा की थी। वह प्रलयकालिक संवर्तक नामक अग्निके समान प्रज्वलित होती और अथर्वांगिरस मन्त्रोंसे प्रकट की गयी कृत्याके समान अत्यन्त भयंकर जान पड़ती थी
gandha-srag-agrayāsana-pāna-bhojanair abhyarcitāṃ pāṇḍusutaiḥ prayatnāt | sāṃvartakāgni-pratimāṃ jvalantīṃ kṛtyām atharvāṅgirasaḥ-sīm ivogrām ||
Sañjaya said: The sons of Pāṇḍu, with sustained effort, continually worshipped her by offering perfumes (such as sandal), garlands, the finest seats, drinks, and food. She blazed like the Saṃvartaka fire of cosmic dissolution, and appeared exceedingly dreadful—like a kṛtyā (a magically projected destructive rite-being) brought forth through Atharvāṅgirasa mantras.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the awe and danger associated with Atharvavedic-style ritual power: when invoked and sustained through offerings and worship, such a force can become intensely formidable—raising ethical questions about the use of extraordinary means within the pressures of war.
Sañjaya describes how the Pāṇḍavas diligently honored a fierce, blazing power—likened to the cosmic Saṃvartaka fire and to an Atharvavedically produced kṛtyā—by making continuous offerings (fragrance, garlands, seats, drinks, and food), emphasizing its terrifying potency.