Vamana Purana — Birth of Skanda (Kartikeya), Shloka 59

The Birth and Consecration of Skanda (Kartikeya) at Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

तदाभिषिक्तं तनयं दृष्ट्वा शर्वो मुदं ययौ पावकः कृत्तिकाश्चैव कुटिला च यशस्विनी

Transliteration

tadābhiṣiktaṃ tanayaṃ dṛṣṭvā śarvo mudaṃ yayau pāvakaḥ kṛttikāścaiva kuṭilā ca yaśasvinī

Translation

随后，见到自己的儿子已受灌顶，舍尔瓦（湿婆，Śarva/Śiva）心生欢喜；火神帕瓦卡（阿耆尼，Pāvaka/Agni）、诸克利提迦（Kṛttikās）以及名声显赫的库提拉（Kuṭilā）也同样欢悦。

Word by Word

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• abhiṣiktam: anointed
• abhiṣiktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√sic (धातु) + kta (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Past Passive Participle; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying ‘tanayam’

• tanayam: son
• tanayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having seen’

• śarvaḥ: Śarva (Śiva)
• śarvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mudam: joy
• mudam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mud (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• yayau: went/attained
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• pāvakaḥ: Fire (Agni)
• pāvakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kṛttikāḥ: the Kṛttikās (Pleiades)
• kṛttikāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛttikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/also
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• kuṭilā: Kuṭilā
• kuṭilā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name in context

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• yaśasvinī: Yaśasvinī (the renowned one)
• yaśasvinī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name/epithet ‘the renowned one’

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic voice) continuing the description of the abhiṣeka scene.

Primary Deities

• Śiva (Śarva)
• Agni (Pāvaka)
• Kṛttikās
• Kārttikeya (implied)

Key Themes

• Divine approval of consecration
• Skanda’s parentage and foster-mothers (Kṛttikās)
• Agni’s role in Skanda mythology
• Auspicious acclaim (yaśas)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Why are Agni and the Kṛttikās specifically mentioned as rejoicing?

Skanda’s mythology is deeply tied to Agni and the Kṛttikās: Agni is a key transmitter of Skanda’s fiery seed in many Purāṇic tellings, and the Kṛttikās are his foster-mothers. Their joy signals cosmic consensus across paternal (Śiva), elemental (Agni), and nurturing (Kṛttikā) agencies.

Who is ‘Kuṭilā’ in this verse?

Kuṭilā appears here as a named, praised female figure (‘yaśasvinī’). Across Purāṇic traditions, such names can denote attendants, mothers, or auspicious personifications within the Skanda cycle; without additional surrounding verses, the safest reading is as a respected participant in the consecration scene rather than a generic adjective.

What does Śiva’s joy contribute to the narrative logic?

Śiva’s rejoicing functions as formal ratification: the consecration is not merely ceremonial but endorsed by the supreme Śaiva authority, preparing for Skanda’s appointment to command (senāpati) in the following verse.