Shloka 23
त्रिदिवे यस्य सदृशो नास्ति रूपेण कश्नन । अतुलत्वात् कृतो देवै्नाम्ना कामस्तु पावक:,स्वर्गमें भी कहीं तुलना न होनेके कारण जिसके समान रूपवान् दूसरा कोई नहीं है, उस स्वाहा-पुत्रको देवताओंने “काम” नामक अग्नि कहा है
tridive yasya sadṛśo nāsti rūpeṇa kaścana | atulatvāt kṛto devair nāmnā kāmas tu pāvakaḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “In the heavenly world there is none equal to him in beauty—no one comparable in form. Therefore, because he is without peer, the gods gave that son of Svāhā the name ‘Kāma’, the Fire.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary qualities lead to meaningful naming and recognition: the gods designate the Svāhā-born Fire as ‘Kāma’ because his beauty is unrivalled even in heaven, suggesting that names can encode perceived essence and exceptional merit.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a particular form/aspect of Fire (Pāvaka/Agni), born of Svāhā, whose unmatched beauty in heaven prompts the gods to confer upon him the name ‘Kāma’.