Shloka 18

कुमाराभिषेकप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Kumāra (Skanda) Investiture at Sarasvatī

Devanagari script

कृत्वाज्जलिं ततो राजन्‌ राक्षसा: क्षुधयार्दिता:

Transliteration

kṛtvāñjaliṃ tato rājan rākṣasāḥ kṣudhayārditāḥ

Translation

Then, O King, the rākṣasas—tormented by hunger—folded their hands in supplication. The moment underscores how even the fierce and violent, when pressed by suffering, turn to humility and seek relief through respectful appeal rather than force.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• कृत्वा: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि, —, —, —

• अञ्जलिम्: añjali; folded hands/salutation
• अञ्जलिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: true

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• राक्षसाः: the rākṣasas/demons
• राक्षसाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• क्षुधया: by/with hunger
• क्षुधया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुध् (प्रातिपदिक: क्षुधा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• आर्दिताः: afflicted/tormented
• आर्दिताः: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्दित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धातु: अर्द्/अर्दय्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन, क्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaishampayana
• King (rājan)
• Rākṣasas
• Añjali (gesture of supplication)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Suffering can soften pride and aggression; even those known for violence may adopt humility and respectful conduct when confronted with need. The verse highlights the ethical power of restraint and supplication over coercion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaishampayana reports that the rākṣasas, distressed by hunger, approach with folded hands (añjali), indicating a plea for help or permission rather than an immediate act of violence.