Shloka 20
भद्रवटगमनम् — स्कन्देन महिषदानवनिग्रहः
Bhadravaṭa Procession and Skanda’s Neutralization of Mahiṣa
मुमुदे परमप्रीतः सह पुत्र्महायशा:
mumude paramaprītaḥ saha putrair mahāyaśāḥ | tapasaḥ putrā ye rathantara-nāmāgnayaḥ kathyante, tebhyo dattā haviḥ mitravinda-devatāyā bhāga iti yajuḥ-vedavido manyante | mahāyaśas tapo (pāñcajanyaḥ) sa sarvaiḥ putraiḥ saha atyanta-prasanna ānandamagno babhūva ||
马尔坎德耶说道：声名显赫的苦行火神塔帕斯（Tapas）欢喜无量，与诸子同庆。献给那些火焰的供献——它们被称为塔帕斯之子，名为“罗檀多罗”（Rathantara）——在《夜柔吠陀》通晓者看来，是归属于天神密特罗温达（Mitravinda）的一份。于是塔帕斯（亦名“般遮阇尼耶”Pāñcajanya）为众子环绕，极其称心，沉浸于喜悦之中。
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the Vedic principle that offerings in sacrifice are not arbitrary: each oblation has a designated divine recipient, as preserved and interpreted by authoritative ritual knowledge (here, Yajurvedic experts). Proper allocation of the ‘bhāga’ sustains sacred order and brings auspicious satisfaction.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes Tapas rejoicing with his sons, identified with specific ritual fires called ‘Rathantara.’ The oblation given to these fires is explained as belonging to the deity Mitravinda, according to Yajurvedic tradition, and Tapas remains delighted with all his sons.