Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 163
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
कार्तिकेयस्तु संवृद्ध:ः कालेन महता तदा | देवैः सेनापतित्वेन वृतः सेन्द्रैर्भगूद्धह,भुगुश्रेष्ठ! कार्तिकेय जब दीर्घकालमें बड़े हुए तब इन्द्र आदि देवताओंने उनका अपने सेनापतिके पदपर वरण किया
Kārtikeyas tu saṃvṛddhaḥ kālena mahatā tadā | devaiḥ senāpatitvena vṛtaḥ sendrair bhṛgūdvaha bhṛguśreṣṭha ||
Wika ni Vasiṣṭha: “Sa paglipas ng mahabang panahon, nang si Kārtikeya ay lumaki at naging ganap ang lakas, ang mga diyos—sa pangunguna ni Indra—ay pumili sa kanya at itinalaga siyang punong kumandante. O pinakadakila sa angkan ni Bhṛgu, ipinahihiwatig ng pagtatalagang ito ang simulain ng dharma: na ang pamumuno sa digmaan ay dapat mapasa kamay ng pinakamarunong, pinakamatatag, at ganap na tagapagtanggol ng pamayanan.”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic model of governance in which authority—especially military command—is entrusted to one who has attained maturity and proven capability, and is formally chosen by the community (here, the gods led by Indra).
Vasiṣṭha narrates that after Kārtikeya grew up over a long time, Indra and the other gods selected him to serve as their senāpati (commander-in-chief).