Shloka 4

कुमारसम्भवः—गङ्गायां तेजोनिक्षेपः

The Birth of Kumāra/Skanda and the Deposition of Śiva’s Energy through Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

यदत्रानन्तरं कार्यं लोकानां हितकाम्यया।संविधत्स्व विधानज्ञ त्वं हि न: परमा गति:।।1.37.4।।

Transliteration

yad atrānantaraṁ kāryaṁ lokānāṁ hita-kāmyayā |

saṁvidhatsva vidhānajña tvaṁ hi naḥ paramā gatiḥ || 1.37.4 ||

Translation

म्हणून लोकांच्या हिताची इच्छा ठेवून आता पुढे जे करणे योग्य आहे, हे विधानज्ञ, ते तुम्हीच यथायोग्य ठरवा; कारण तुम्हीच खरे आमची परम गती व आश्रय आहात।

Word by Word

• yat: whatever (which)
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); correlates with kāryam

• atra: here/in this matter
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• anantaram: next/that follows
• anantaram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying kāryam

• kāryam: task to be done
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• lokānām: of the worlds/people
• lokānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hitakāmyayā: with desire for welfare
• hitakāmyayā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita-kāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); abstract/intent: 'with the desire for welfare'; Tatpuruṣa: hitasya kāmyā (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• saṃvidhatsva: ordain/arrange
• saṃvidhatsva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√vidh (विध् धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidhānajña: O knower of ordinance
• vidhānajña: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna-jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: vidhānaṃ jānāti (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya particle (निपात), emphatic/causal

• naḥ: of us/our
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); enclitic form

• paramā: supreme
• paramā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies gatiḥ

• gatiḥ: refuge/goal
• gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"O Knower of law and order! O Grandsire! verily you are our supreme refuge committed to the welfare of the worlds. Tell us what we should do in this matter (now that we cannot procreate a general on account of Uma's curse)".

Characters & Entities

• Devāḥ
• Brahmā
• Lokāḥ (worlds)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is loka-hita (welfare of the worlds) pursued through proper counsel: the devas seek a lawful, welfare-oriented solution from the competent authority.

What is the narrative situation?

Facing a crisis in appointing/producing a commander, the devas ask Brahmā to decide the next action for the good of all worlds.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and procedural righteousness: rather than acting unilaterally, the devas submit to Brahmā’s judgment.