Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 37

Kārttikeya-Abhiṣecana: Mātṛgaṇa-Nāma Saṃkīrtana and Skanda’s Commission

Devanagari script

चक्र विक्रमकं चैव संक्रमं च महाबलम्‌ | स्कन्दाय त्रीननुचरान्‌ ददौ विष्णुर्महायशा:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

chakra-vikramakaṃ caiva saṃkramaṃ ca mahābalam |

skandāya trīn anucarān dadau viṣṇur mahāyaśāḥ |

Translation

وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا—بہت نامور بھگوان وِشنو نے اسکند کو چکر، وِکرمک اور نہایت زورآور سنکرم—یہ تین خادم عطا کیے۔ رُدروں، وَسُؤں، آدِتیوں اور دونوں اَشوِنی کُماروں سے گھِرا ہوا پروردگار معرکے میں کھڑا تھا۔

Word by Word

• चक्र: Chakra (name of an attendant)
• चक्र: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विक्रमकम्: Vikramaka (name of an attendant)
• विक्रमकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रमक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• संक्रमम्: Saṅkrama (name of an attendant)
• संक्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• महाबलम्: very strong (one)
• महाबलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• स्कन्दाय: to Skanda
• स्कन्दाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अनुचरान्: attendants/followers
• अनुचरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुचर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ददौ: gave
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महायशाः: of great fame
• महायशाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायशस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रुद्रैः: by/with the Rudras
• रुद्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वसुभिः: by/with the Vasus
• वसुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आदित्यैः: by/with the Ādityas
• आदित्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अश्विभ्याम्: by/with the two Aśvins
• अश्विभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

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

• वृतः: surrounded/attended
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ
• Form: Past passive participle (kta), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रभुः: the lord/master
• प्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Viṣṇu
• Skanda (Kārttikeya)
• Cakra (attendant/power)
• Vikramaka (attendant/power)
• Saṃkrama (attendant/power)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power is portrayed as something to be entrusted and structured under dharmic purpose: Viṣṇu’s granting of attendants to Skanda symbolizes disciplined strength placed in service of protection and right order, not ego or chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a scene where Skanda is being honored and equipped: Viṣṇu formally grants him three personified attendant-forces—Cakra, Vikramaka, and the mighty Saṃkrama—marking Skanda’s empowerment and recognition among the divine powers.