Shloka 12
भद्रवटगमनम् — स्कन्देन महिषदानवनिग्रहः
Bhadravaṭa Procession and Skanda’s Neutralization of Mahiṣa
सुमित्रं मित्रवन्तं च मित्रज्ञं मित्रवर्धनम् । मित्रधर्माणमित्येतान् देवानभ्यसृजत् तप:
sumitraṁ mitravantaṁ ca mitrajñaṁ mitravardhanam | mitradharmāṇam ity etān devān abhyasṛjat tapaḥ ||
马尔坎德耶说道：“苦行力（tapas）仿佛具足造化之能，化生出这五位神类：苏密特拉（Sumitra）、密特拉梵（Mitravān）、密特拉阇那（Mitrajña）、密特拉伐尔达那（Mitravardhana）与密特拉达摩（Mitradharmā）——皆为以友谊护持之化身：善友者、有友者、知友者、增友者、守友法者。”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates friendship to a dharmic principle: true social and moral order is protected by virtues such as being a good friend, sustaining friendships, discerning loyalty, strengthening bonds, and adhering to the ethical duties of friendship.
Markandeya describes how tapas (austerity/spiritual power) generates five divine, guardian-like personifications connected with friendship—each name representing a distinct facet of how friendship functions as a protective moral force.