Shloka 2

Śakuntalā-Janma-Nāmakaraṇa (Birth and Naming of Śakuntalā) | शकुन्तला-जन्म-नामकरणम्

Devanagari script

मृगव्याधश्च सर्पश्न निर्क्रतिश्न महायशा: । अजैकपादहिर्बुध्न्य: पिनाकी च परंतप:,मृगव्याध, सर्प, महायशस्वी निर्क्रति, अजैकपाद, अहिर्डुध्न्य, शत्रुसंतापन पिनाकी, दहन, ईश्वर, परम कान्तिमान्‌ कपाली, स्थाणु और भगवान्‌ भव-ये ग्यारह रुद्र माने गये हैं

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca |

Mṛgavyādhaś ca Sarpajñaḥ Nirkṛtiś ca mahāyaśāḥ |

Ajāikapād Ahirbudhnyaḥ Pinākī ca parantapaḥ ||

Translation

ไวศัมปายนะกล่าวว่า “มฤควยาธะ, สรรปะ, นิรกฤติผู้มีเกียรติยศยิ่ง, อชัยกปาท, อหิรพุธนยะ และปินากีผู้เผาผลาญศัตรู—เหล่านี้เป็นนามของเหล่ารุทรตามคติสืบทอดกันมา”

Word by Word

मृगव्याधःhunter (of deer); the Rudra named Mṛgavyādha

चand

सर्पश्नःsnake-eater; the Rudra named Sarpashna

निर्कृतिश्नःthe Rudra named Nirkṛtiśna (name/epithet)

महायशाःgreatly renowned

अजैकपादःthe one-footed (Ajaikapād); a Rudra

अहिर्बुध्न्यःAhirbudhnya (serpent of the deep); a Rudra

पिनाकीbearer of the bow Pināka

चand

परंतपःfoe-scorcher; the one who torments enemies

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Rudras

Mṛgavyādha

Sarpajña

Nirkṛti

Ajāikapād

Ahirbudhnya

Pinākī

Pināka (bow)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models a traditional dhārmic practice: honoring divine powers through precise naming and remembrance. Such ordered enumeration (of the Rudras) conveys that cosmic forces are integrated into a meaningful, knowable sacred order, inviting reverence and disciplined recollection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is reciting a list of Rudra names/epithets. The passage is part of a broader cataloging tradition in the epic, where divine beings are identified through multiple titles to indicate their functions, powers, and Vedic pedigree.