Mahabharata 9.45.22 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 45, Shloka 22

Kārttikeya-Abhiṣecana: Mātṛgaṇa-Nāma Saṃkīrtana and Skanda’s Commission

Devanagari script

पुरा यथा महाराज वरुण वै जलेश्वरम्‌ । तथाभ्यषिज्चद्‌ भगवान्‌ सर्वलोकपितामह:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

purā yathā mahārāja varuṇaṃ vai jaleśvaram |

tathābhyasiñcad bhagavān sarvalokapitāmahaḥ |

rudravasubhirādityairaśvibhyāṃ ca vṛtaḥ prabhuḥ |

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「大王よ、古えに水界の主ヴァルナが灌頂を受けたように、万界の祖父たる祝福されたピターマハ（梵天）もまた、ルドラ、ヴァス、アーディティヤ、そして二柱のアシュヴィンに囲まれつつ、その灌頂を執り行ったのである。」

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly, in olden times
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• यथा: as, just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• जलेश्वरम्: lord of the waters
• जलेश्वरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: so, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अभ्यषिञ्चत्: anointed, consecrated
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-षिच्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वलोकपितामहः: grandfather of all worlds (Brahmā)
• सर्वलोकपितामहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-लोक-पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रुद्रैः: with the Rudras
• रुद्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वसुभिः: with the Vasus
• वसुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आदित्यैः: with the Ādityas
• आदित्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अश्विभ्याम्: with the two Aśvins
• अश्विभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• वृतः: surrounded, encompassed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (kta) from √वृ (to cover/enclose)

• प्रभुः: the lord
• प्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Varuṇa
• Jala (waters)
• Sarvalokapitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Rudras
• Vasus
• Ādityas
• Aśvinau (the Aśvin twins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Authority is portrayed as dharmically grounded: true sovereignty is established through consecration and the recognition of higher cosmic principles, not merely through power. The presence of multiple deity-groups symbolizes broad, orderly sanction for rightful rule.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana recalls an ancient precedent: as Varuṇa was once consecrated as lord of waters, so the Grandsire (Brahmā) performs a consecration, attended by the Rudras, Vasus, Ādityas, and the Aśvin twins—indicating a major, divinely witnessed installation.