Shloka 9

Duryodhana Seized by Citraseṇa; Kaurava Petition to Yudhiṣṭhira (दुर्योधनापहारः / चित्रसेनगन्धर्वग्रहणम्)

Devanagari script

तत्र मूढो5स्मि भद्रं ते नक्षत्र गगनाच्च्युतम्‌ काल त्विमं परं स्कन्द ब्रह्मणा सह चिन्तय,“तुम्हारा कल्याण हो, आकाशसे यह एक नक्षत्र च्युत हो गया है; (इसकी पूर्ति कैसे हो?) इस प्रश्नको लेकर मैं किंकर्तव्यविमूढ हो गया हूँ। स्कन्द! तुम ब्रह्माजीके साथ मिलकर इस उत्तम काल (मुहूर्त या नक्षत्र) की पूर्तिके उपायका विचार करो

Transliteration

tatra mūḍho ’smi bhadraṃ te nakṣatraṃ gaganāc cyutam | kāla tv imaṃ paraṃ skanda brahmaṇā saha cintaya ||

Translation

“In this matter I am utterly perplexed—may good befall you. A star (or auspicious lunar mansion) has fallen from the sky. Therefore, O Skanda, reflect together with Brahmā on how this supreme ‘time’—this auspicious moment or constellation—may be restored.”

Word by Word

• {'tatra': 'there

• in that matter', 'mūḍhaḥ asmi': 'I am bewildered

• I am at a loss', 'bhadram te': 'may it be auspicious for you

• blessings upon you', 'nakṣatram': 'star

• lunar mansion/asterism (also an auspicious marker of time)', 'gaganāt': 'from the sky', 'cyutam': 'fallen

• displaced', 'kālāt': 'therefore

• on account of time (contextually: ‘thus/so’)', 'imam': 'this', 'param': 'supreme

• most important', 'skanda': 'Skanda (Kārttikeya), addressed vocatively', 'brahmaṇā saha': 'together with Brahmā', 'cintaya': 'consider

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Skanda (Kārttikeya)
• Brahmā
• nakṣatra (star/asterism)
• gagana (sky)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When cosmic or moral order appears disrupted, one should not act rashly; instead, acknowledge confusion honestly and seek wise counsel to restore harmony through thoughtful deliberation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya reports an ominous or extraordinary event—an astral marker (nakṣatra) has ‘fallen’—and, feeling unsure of the proper response, asks Skanda to consult with Brahmā to determine how the auspicious time/constellation can be set right.