Mahabharata 9.46.79 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 46, Shloka 79

Varuṇābhiṣeka–Agni-anveṣaṇa–Kaubera-tīrtha

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

Devanagari script

दग्धा: सहस्रशो दैत्या नादै: स्कन्दस्य चापरे | पताकयावधूताश्न हता: केचित्‌ सुरद्विष:

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca | dagdhāḥ sahasraśo daityā nādaiḥ skandasya cāpare | patākayā vadhūtāś ca hatāḥ kecit suradviṣaḥ ||

Translation

ఆ శక్త్యస్త్రాగ్నిలో వేలాది దైత్యులు దగ్ధమై భస్మమయ్యారు. మరికొందరు స్కందుని సింహనాదం మాత్రమే విని ప్రాణాలు విడిచారు; కొందరు దేవద్వేషులు ఆయన ధ్వజం ఊపిరితోనే కంపించి మరణించారు.

Word by Word

• दग्धाः: burnt
• दग्धाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दग्ध (√दह्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• दैत्याḥ: Daityas (demons)
• दैत्याḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नादैः: by roars/cries
• नादैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• स्कन्दस्य: of Skanda
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पताकया: by (his) banner/flag
• पताकया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• अवधूताः: shaken, agitated, tossed
• अवधूताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवधूत (√धू)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हताḥ: killed, slain
• हताḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (√हन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: केचित्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सुरद्विषः: haters of the gods (god-enemies)
• सुरद्विषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरद्विष्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Skanda (Kārttikeya)
• Dāityas
• Suras/Devas
• Skanda’s banner (patākā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how adharma-driven hostility toward the divine order (suradviṣaḥ) collapses before righteous, divinely sanctioned force: not only weapons but also presence, sound, and symbols (like the banner) can become instruments of moral and cosmic retribution.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Skanda’s overwhelming impact in battle: thousands of Dāityas are burned, some die from fear induced by his lion-like roars, and others are slain as his banner’s sweeping motion shakes and routs them.