Shloka 7

कुमाराभिषेकप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Kumāra (Skanda) Investiture at Sarasvatī

Devanagari script

अथागम्य महाभागास्तत्‌ तीर्थ दारुणं तदा ६ ।।

Transliteration

athāgamya mahābhāgās tat tīrthaṁ dāruṇaṁ tadā | dṛṣṭvā toyaṁ sarasvatyāḥ śoṇitena pariplutam || pīyamānaṁ ca rakṣobhir bahubhir nṛpasattama ||

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു— നൃപസത്തമാ, അപ്പോൾ ആ മഹാഭാഗ ഋഷിമാർ ആ ഭീകര തീർത്ഥത്തിലെത്തി, സരസ്വതിയുടെ ജലം രക്തത്തിൽ മുങ്ങിയിരിക്കുന്നതും അനേകം രാക്ഷസർ അത് കുടിക്കുന്നതും കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• आगम्य: having come/arrived
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-र्थे अव्यय), कर्तरि

• महाभागाः: the fortunate/noble ones
• महाभागाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तीर्थम्: ford; sacred bathing-place
• तीर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दारुणम्: terrible, dreadful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तदा: at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा, कर्तरि

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सरस्वत्याः: of Sarasvatī (river)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• शोणितेन: with blood
• शोणितेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोणित
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• परिप्लुतम्: flooded/filled all over
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-प्लु
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पीयमानम्: being drunk
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा
• Form: शानच् (present passive participle), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• रक्षोभिः: by the rākṣasas/demons
• रक्षोभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• mahābhāgāḥ (sages/munis)
• tīrtha
• Sarasvatī (river)
• rakṣasas
• nṛpasattama (addressed king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that unchecked violence and adharma can defile even sacred places: a tīrtha meant for purification becomes blood-filled, and predatory beings thrive there. It serves as a moral warning about the spiritual and social consequences of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of revered sages arrives at a tīrtha on the Sarasvatī and witnesses a horrific sight: the river-water is inundated with blood, and many rākṣasas are drinking it, indicating a grim aftermath of conflict and desecration.