Mahabharata 9.46.306 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 46, Shloka 306

Varuṇābhiṣeka–Agni-anveṣaṇa–Kaubera-tīrtha

Varuṇa’s Consecration; Search for Agni; Kaubera Sacred Site

Devanagari script

कार्तिकेयानुयायिन्यो नानारूपा: सहस्रशः । भरतश्रेष्ठ! ये तथा और भी नाना रूपधारिणी बहुत-सी सहस्रों मातृकाएँ हैं, जो कुमार कार्तिकेयका अनुसरण करती हैं

Transliteration

kārtikeyānuyāyinyaḥ nānārūpāḥ sahasraśaḥ | bharataśreṣṭha! ye tathā anyā api nānā-rūpadhāriṇī bahvyaḥ sahasraśo mātṛkāḥ santi, yāḥ kumāra-kārtikeyasya anuyānam kurvanti |

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—ఓ భరతశ్రేష్ఠా! కార్తికేయుని అనుసరించే నానారూపధారిణులైన వేలాది సేవికలు ఉన్నారు. అలాగే విభిన్న రూపాలు ధరించిన అనేక మాతృకాదేవతలు కూడా కుమార కార్తికేయుని అనుసరించి అతనితో పాటు సాగుతారు.

Word by Word

• कार्तिकेय: of Kārtikeya
• कार्तिकेय: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिकेय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अनुयायिन्यः: followers (female)
• अनुयायिन्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुयायिन्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• नाना: various, many kinds of
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना

• रूपाः: forms
• रूपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• सहस्रशः: by thousands, in thousands
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस्

• भरत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• श्रेष्ठ: best, foremost
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kārttikeya (Skanda/Kumāra)
• Bharataśreṣṭha (address to Janamejaya)
• Mātṛkās

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage underscores the vastness and diversity of divine forces that gather around a righteous or powerful leader: Kārttikeya is portrayed as supported by innumerable, multiform energies (Mātṛkās and attendants), suggesting that protection and victory are not merely individual but arise from aligned, many-sided powers.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the entourage of Kārttikeya: thousands of female followers of varied forms, and additionally innumerable Mātṛkā mother-deities who accompany and follow Kumāra Kārttikeya, emphasizing the scale and awe of the divine assembly.