Shloka 16

कुमारसम्भवः—गङ्गायां तेजोनिक्षेपः

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

Devanagari script

अथाब्रवीदिदं गङ्गां सर्वदेवहुताशन:।इह हैमवती पादे गर्भोऽयं सन्निवेश्यताम्।।1.37.16।।

Transliteration

athābravīd idaṃ gaṅgāṃ sarvadevahutāśanaḥ | iha haimavatī pāde garbho 'yaṃ sanniveśyatām ||

Translation

அப்போது எல்லாத் தேவர்களின் ஹவியை ஏற்கும் அக்னிதேவன் கங்கையிடம் கூறினான்— “இந்த கருவை இங்கே ஹிமவானின் அடிவாரச் சரிவுகளில் வைத்திடுக.”

Word by Word

• अथ: then/thereupon
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/क्रम (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunctive particle)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (Object: what was said)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; वचन-रूपेण (as 'this [speech]')

• गङ्गाम्: to Gaṅgā
• गङ्गाम्: कर्म (Object: addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• सर्वदेवहुताशनः: Agni, consumer of offerings to all gods
• सर्वदेवहुताशनः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-देव-हुताशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (eater of oblations of all gods)

• इह: here
• इह: देश (Place adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• हैमवती: of Himavat
• हैमवती: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैमवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; पादे इति विशेषण (on Himavat's)

• पादे: on the slope/foot
• पादे: अधिकरण (Locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; पर्वतपादे (on the slope/foot)

• गर्भः: embryo
• गर्भः: कर्ता (Subject of passive/imperative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; गर्भः इति विशेषण

• सन्निवेश्यताम्: let (it) be placed
• सन्निवेश्यताम्: आज्ञा/विधि (Injunctive command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-नि-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive imperative: 'let it be placed')

Context

Thereafter the Fire-god who is the partaker of oblations offered to all deities said to Ganga 'Place this embryo on this slope of Mountain Himavan'.

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Gaṅgā
• Himavat (Himālaya)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes choosing the proper place and conditions (deśa-kāla) for a powerful charge; life and power are protected by being settled where they can be safely sustained.

What is the narrative situation?

Since Gaṅgā cannot bear the potency, Agni proposes relocating the embryo to the slopes of Himavat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical compassion and wise guidance: Agni offers a concrete remedy that reduces suffering while fulfilling the divine purpose.