Shloka 3
मधुकैटभवधोपाख्यानम्
The Account of the Slaying of Madhu and Kaiṭabha
एतच्छुत्वा तु कौन्तेयो भ्रातृभि: सह भारत | मार्कण्डेयं पर्यपृच्छद् धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिर:,भरतनन्दन जनमेजय! मार्कण्डेयजीका यह कथन सुनकर भाइयोंसहित कुन्तीकुमार धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने मार्कण्डेयजीसे पुन: पूछा--
etac chrutvā tu kaunteyo bhrātṛbhiḥ saha bhārata | mārkaṇḍeyaṃ paryapṛcchad dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ |
فلما سمع ابنُ كونتي—ملكَ الدَّرما يودهيشثيرا—تلك الكلمات، عاد مع إخوته يسأل الحكيمَ ماركانديَيا من جديد.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A dharmic leader does not rely on impulse or pride; he listens carefully and then seeks further clarification from a trustworthy sage, showing humility and commitment to right understanding.
In the forest setting of the Vana Parva, after hearing Mārkaṇḍeya’s preceding account, Yudhiṣṭhira—accompanied by his brothers—asks the sage another question, continuing the didactic dialogue.