Shloka 7

कुमाराभिषेकप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Kumāra (Skanda) Investiture at Sarasvatī

Devanagari script

अथागम्य महाभागास्तत्‌ तीर्थ दारुणं तदा ६ ।।

Transliteration

athāgamya mahābhāgās tat tīrthaṁ dāruṇaṁ tadā | dṛṣṭvā toyaṁ sarasvatyāḥ śoṇitena pariplutam || pīyamānaṁ ca rakṣobhir bahubhir nṛpasattama ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana nói: Rồi các bậc hiền triết lẫy lừng ấy đến bến thiêng ghê gớm kia. Tại đó, họ thấy nước sông Sarasvatī ngập tràn máu, và nhiều rākṣasa đang uống lấy. Cảnh tượng nhấn mạnh rằng bạo lực có thể làm ô uế cả một tīrtha, biến nơi vốn để thanh tẩy thành chứng nhân cho sự suy đồi đạo lý và cơn săn mồi tàn nhẫn sau chiến tranh.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• आगम्य: having come/arrived
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-र्थे अव्यय), कर्तरि

• महाभागाः: the fortunate/noble ones
• महाभागाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तीर्थम्: ford; sacred bathing-place
• तीर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दारुणम्: terrible, dreadful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तदा: at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा, कर्तरि

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सरस्वत्याः: of Sarasvatī (river)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• शोणितेन: with blood
• शोणितेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोणित
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• परिप्लुतम्: flooded/filled all over
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-प्लु
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पीयमानम्: being drunk
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा
• Form: शानच् (present passive participle), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• रक्षोभिः: by the rākṣasas/demons
• रक्षोभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• mahābhāgāḥ (sages/munis)
• tīrtha
• Sarasvatī (river)
• rakṣasas
• nṛpasattama (addressed king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that unchecked violence and adharma can defile even sacred places: a tīrtha meant for purification becomes blood-filled, and predatory beings thrive there. It serves as a moral warning about the spiritual and social consequences of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of revered sages arrives at a tīrtha on the Sarasvatī and witnesses a horrific sight: the river-water is inundated with blood, and many rākṣasas are drinking it, indicating a grim aftermath of conflict and desecration.