Shloka 9

Skanda–Svāhā-saṃvāda; Gaṇa-vyutpatti and Śvetaparvata-vaibhava

Chapter 220

Devanagari script

भरद्वाजस्य भार्या तु वीरा वीरस्य पिण्डदा । प्राहुराज्येन तस्येज्यां सोमस्येव द्विजा: शनैः,शंयुके पहले पुत्र भरद्वाजकी पत्नीका नाम “वीरा” था, जिसने वीर नामक पुत्रको शरीर प्रदान किया। ब्राह्मणोंने सोमकी ही भाँति वीरकी भी आज्यभागसे पूजा बतायी है*। इनके लिये आहुति देते समय मन्त्रका उपांशु उच्चारण किया जाता है

Transliteration

bharadvājasya bhāryā tu vīrā vīrasya piṇḍadā | prāhur ājyena tasy ejyāṃ somasyeva dvijāḥ śanaiḥ |

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Bharadvāja’s wife was named Vīrā; she gave bodily form to a son named Vīra. The Brahmins declare that Vīra is to be worshipped with an offering of ghee, in the same manner as Soma, and that the oblation is to be made softly (in a subdued, near-whispered recitation). The passage underscores the sanctity of lineage and ritual propriety: even human progeny and their remembrance are framed within disciplined Vedic procedure, where correct offering and restrained speech express reverence and self-control.

Word by Word

• {'bharadvājasya': 'of Bharadvāja (genitive)', 'bhāryā': 'wife', 'tu': 'indeed

• and', 'vīrā': 'Vīrā (proper name)', 'vīrasya': 'of Vīra (genitive)', 'piṇḍadā': 'giver of a body/embodiment

• one who provides the bodily form (lit. ‘giver of a lump/body’)', 'prāhuḥ': 'they said

• they declare', 'ājyena': 'with ghee (clarified butter)

• by means of ghee', 'tasya': 'of him

• his', 'ijyām': 'worship

• sacrificial honoring', 'somasya': 'of Soma', 'iva': 'like

• as', 'dvijāḥ': 'twice-born (Brahmins and other initiated classes)

• here: Brahmins/ritualists', 'śanaiḥ': 'gently

• softly', 'upāṃśu (contextual)': 'in a low voice

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Bharadvāja
• Vīrā
• Vīra
• Soma
• Dvijāḥ (Brahmins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic discipline in ritual life: honoring persons and lineage is integrated into Vedic norms—proper offerings (ghee) and restrained speech (soft recitation) embody reverence, control, and correctness in sacred action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya identifies Bharadvāja’s wife as Vīrā and states she bore a son named Vīra. He adds a ritual note: Brahmins prescribe that Vīra is to be honored with ghee-offerings like Soma, with the mantra recited softly during the oblation.