Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 74
Kārttikeya-Abhiṣecana: Mātṛgaṇa-Nāma Saṃkīrtana and Skanda’s Commission
अचल: कनकाक्षश्न बालानामपि य: प्रभु: । संचारकः कोकनदो गृश्रपत्रश्चन जम्बुक:
acalaḥ kanakākṣaś ca bālānām api yaḥ prabhuḥ | sañcārakaḥ kokanado gṛdhrapatraś ca na jambukaḥ ||
ਵੈਸ਼ੰਪਾਯਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— ਉਹ ਅਚਲ (ਅਡੋਲ) ਸੀ; ‘ਕਨਕਾਕ੍ਸ਼’ (ਸੁਵਰਨ-ਨੇਤਰ) ਸੀ; ਬਾਲਕਾਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਵੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੁਤਾ ਰੱਖਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਸੀ। ਉਹ ਸੰਚਾਰਕ (ਦੂਤ ਵਾਂਗ ਘੁੰਮਣ ਵਾਲਾ) ਸੀ; ‘ਕੋਕਨਦ’ ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਸੀ; ‘ਗ੍ਰਿਧ੍ਰਪਤ੍ਰ’ (ਗਿਦੜ-ਪੰਖ) ਸੀ— ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਜੰਬੁਕ (ਸਿਆਲ) ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes discerning true strength and nobility: the described figure is steady, authoritative, and fit for responsible movement (as a messenger/scout), and should not be dismissed as something base or cowardly (“not a jackal”).
Vaiśampāyana lists epithets describing a particular person/agent—portraying him as firm, commanding even over the young, active as a mover or messenger, known by specific names, and explicitly distinguished from a contemptible or cowardly type.