Shloka 40

Kuru's Consecration — Kuru’s Consecration and the Sanctification of Samantapañcaka (Kurukshetra)

Devanagari script

विद्याधरं शङ्कुकर्णं सुकेशिं राक्षसेश्वरम् अजावनं च नृपतिं महोदेवं च पावकम्

Transliteration

vidyādharaṃ śaṅkukarṇaṃ sukeśiṃ rākṣaseśvaram ajāvanaṃ ca nṛpatiṃ mahodevaṃ ca pāvakam

Translation

शङ्कुकर्णं नाम विद्याधरं, सुकेशिनं राक्षसेश्वरं, अजावनं नृपतिं, महोदेवं च, पावकं च रक्षकत्वेन न्ययोजयत्।

Word by Word

• vidyādharam: a Vidyādhara
• vidyādharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṅkukarṇam: Śaṅkukarṇa
• śaṅkukarṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅku (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) proper name; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sukeśim: Sukeśin (the well-haired one)
• sukeśim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + keśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) / descriptive compound 'having good hair'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rākṣaseśvaram: lord of the Rākṣasas
• rākṣaseśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ajāvanam: Ajāvana (proper name)
• ajāvanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयार्थक निपात)

• nṛpatim: king
• nṛpatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahodevam: Mahādeva
• mahodevam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयार्थक निपात)

• pāvakam: Pāvaka (Fire)
• pāvakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (typical Vāmana Purāṇa framing; chapter-level attribution)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (as Puruṣottama)
• Mahodeva (Śiva, by title)
• Pāvaka/Agni

Key Themes

• Sectarian Harmony (Hari-Hara complementarity in administrative roles)
• Sacred Geography
• Kṣetra-rakṣā
• Integration of divine classes (Vidyādhara, Rākṣasa, Agni)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The kṣetra’s protection is not monopolized by a single category of beings: even figures associated with liminal or fearsome domains (Rākṣasas) are placed into dharmic service. This teaches that power is ethically redeemed when subordinated to the safeguarding of sacred order.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily carita-oriented (narrative/etiological listing) within a tīrtha-māhātmya framework. It supports the Purāṇic function of mapping sacred space and its divine governance rather than genealogical or cosmological enumeration.

What is the symbolic significance?

The inclusion of Mahodeva (Śiva) alongside Agni and other beings reflects a layered sacrality: Śiva signifies ascetic-transcendent guardianship, Agni signifies purity and ritual protection, and the mixed retinue signifies that the kṣetra is defended on spiritual, ritual, and worldly planes.