Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

परिश्रुत: कोकनद: प्रियमाल्यानुलेपन: । अजोदरो गजशिरा: स्कन्धाक्ष: शतलोचन:

Transliteration

pariśrutaḥ kokanadaḥ priyamālyānulepanaḥ | ajodaro gajaśirāḥ skandhākṣaḥ śatalocanaḥ ||

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു— “അവൻ എല്ലായിടത്തും പ്രസിദ്ധൻ; കോകനദ താമരപോലെ ദീപ്തിമാൻ; പ്രിയമാലകളും സുഗന്ധാനുലേപനങ്ങളും ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നവൻ. അവന്റെ ഉദരം ‘അജോദര’—ദൃഢവും സഘനവും; ശിരസ് ഗജശിരസ്സുപോലെ; സ്കന്ധങ്ങളും നേത്രങ്ങളും പ്രബലം; അവൻ ‘ശതലോചനൻ’—അസാധാരണവും ഭയഭക്തി ഉണർത്തുന്നതുമായ തേജസ്സുള്ള ദൃഷ്ടിയാൽ ചിഹ്നിതൻ.”

Word by Word

परिश्रुतःwell-heard, renowned

कोकनदःKokanada (a name; lit. red lotus)

प्रियdear, pleasing

माल्यgarland

अनुलेपनःanointing, unguent; one who anoints

अजोदरःhaving a goat-like belly

गजशिराःelephant-headed

स्कन्धाक्षःhaving eyes on the shoulders

शतलोचनःhundred-eyed

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

kokanada (lotus)

garlands (mālya)

unguents/anointing paste (anulepana)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse is primarily descriptive rather than didactic: it shows how epic poetry uses epithets—fame, beauty, strength, and awe—to frame a warrior’s presence. Ethically, it reminds readers that in war, reputation and outward splendor amplify both glory and responsibility, intensifying the moral stakes of violent action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is listing a sequence of laudatory epithets describing a formidable figure in the Shalya Parva war context. The focus is on physical majesty (lotus-like radiance, elephant-like head, powerful shoulders/eyes) and courtly refinement (garlands and perfumes), building an image of a celebrated, intimidating warrior.