Shloka 213

चित्रसेनगन्धर्वैः कौरवसंनिपातः

Citrasena and the Kaurava engagement

Devanagari script

अभिषिच्यस्व देवानां सैनापत्ये महाबल । इन्द्रने कहा--महाबलवान्‌ स्कन्द! मैं तुम्हारे कहनेसे इन्द्र-पदपर प्रतिष्ठित रहूँगा। यदि वास्तवमें तुम मेरी आज्ञाका पालन करना चाहते हो, यदि तुमने यह निश्चित बात कही है, अथवा यदि तुम्हारा यह कथन सत्य है तो मेरी यह बात सुनो--महावीर! तुम देवताओंके सेनापतिके पदपर अपना अभिषेक करा लो

Transliteration

abhiṣicyasva devānāṃ saināpatye mahābala |

Translation

Indra said: “O mighty one, be consecrated to the office of commander of the gods’ army. If you truly intend to honor my command and if your resolve is firm and truthful, then hear my decision: remain established in the Indra-status as you have urged, and accept instead the consecration as the devas’ general. Thus authority is upheld without rivalry, and duty is assigned where strength and merit best serve the common good.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'abhiṣicyasva', 'definition': 'be consecrated

• undergo ceremonial anointing/installation (imperative, middle voice)'}, {'term': 'devānām', 'definition': 'of the gods (genitive plural)'}, {'term': 'saināpatye', 'definition': 'in the office of commander-in-chief

• generalship (locative singular)'}, {'term': 'mahābala', 'definition': 'O great-strong one

Speaker

इन्द्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Skanda (Kārttikeya)
• Devas (the gods)
• Saināpatya (commandership of the divine army)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate authority is preserved by assigning roles according to fitness and merit: Indra maintains cosmic stability by retaining his station while honoring Skanda’s prowess through the office of divine commander, showing dharma as orderly delegation rather than rivalry.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra addresses Skanda and instructs him to undergo abhiṣeka (formal installation) as the commander-in-chief of the gods’ forces, indicating a transfer of military leadership to Skanda while Indra remains established as king of the gods.