Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 84
Varuṇābhiṣeka–Agni-anveṣaṇa–Kaubera-tīrtha
Varuṇa’s Consecration; Search for Agni; Kaubera Sacred Site
उदारबुद्धि महासेनने उस दैत्यपर भी आक्रमण किया। तब वह कार्तिकेयके भयसे क्रौंच पर्वतकी शरणमें जा छिपा ।।
tataḥ krauñcaḥ mahāmanyuḥ krauñcanādanināditam | śaktyā bibheda bhagavān kārtikeyo 'gnidattayā ||
ਤਦ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਕਾਰਤਿਕੇਯ ਨੂੰ ਮਹਾਨ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਚੜ੍ਹਿਆ। ਕ੍ਰੌਂਚ ਪੰਛੀਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਚੀਖਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਗੂੰਜਦੇ ਕ੍ਰੌਂਚ ਪਹਾੜ ਨੂੰ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਅਗਨੀ-ਦੱਤ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਚੀਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that power is ethically meaningful when aligned with the protection of cosmic and social order: even a mountain-like refuge cannot shield harmful forces when confronted by divinely sanctioned, duty-driven action.
Kārtikeya becomes greatly enraged and, wielding the śakti-spear granted by Agni, cleaves Mount Krauñca, which is described as reverberating with the calls of krauñca birds—an image of a formidable stronghold being forcibly opened.