Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 83

Varuṇābhiṣeka–Agni-anveṣaṇa–Kaubera-tīrtha

Varuṇa’s Consecration; Search for Agni; Kaubera Sacred Site

Devanagari script

तमभ्ययान्महासेन: सुरशत्रुमुदारधी: । स कार्तिकेयस्य भयात्‌ क्रौज्चं शरणमीयिवान्‌

Transliteration

tam abhyayān mahāsenaḥ suraśatrum udāradhīḥ | sa kārtikeyasya bhayāt krauñcaṃ śaraṇam īyivān |

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana nói: Bấy giờ Mahāsena—bậc có trí hiểu cao quý—tiến lên đối đầu kẻ thù của chư thiên. Nhưng vì khiếp sợ Kārtikeya, kẻ ấy liền tìm nơi nương náu ở núi Krauñca, chọn ẩn mình thay vì đường đường chính chính giao chiến.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभ्ययात्: approached/advanced towards
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (इ) + अभि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महासेनः: Mahāsena (Kārttikeya)
• महासेनः: Karta
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: महासेन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुरशत्रुम्: the enemy of the gods
• सुरशत्रुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरशत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उदारधीः: of noble intellect
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदारधी
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कार्तिकेयस्य: of Kārttikeya
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: कार्तिकेय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• क्रौञ्चम्: Krauñca (mountain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रौञ्च
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ईयिवान्: having gone/resorted
• Type: Verb (Participial)
• Root: इ (या) (धातु) → ईयिवस् (परिपूर्ण/लिट्-कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Perfect active participle (लिट्-कृदन्त), -वान्

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Mahāsena (Kārtikeya/Skanda)
• Kārtikeya
• Suraśatru (enemy of the gods)
• Krauncha (mountain)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that unrighteous or hostile power often collapses into fear when confronted by a force aligned with divine order; seeking refuge becomes a sign of moral and psychological defeat, not merely a tactical retreat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mahāsena (Kārtikeya) advances against the ‘enemy of the gods.’ Terrified of Kārtikeya, the foe abandons direct resistance and takes shelter in Krauncha mountain.