Shloka 50
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
तस्य कुर्वन्ति वचन सेन्द्रा देवा श्वमूमुखे । गृहीत्वा तु पताकां वै यात्यग्रे राक्षसो ग्रह:,इन्द्र आदि देवता सेनाके मुहानेपर उपस्थित हो भगवान् शिवके आदेशका पालन करते थे। एक राक्षस ग्रह सेनाका झंडा लेकर आगे-आगे चलता था
tasya kurvanti vacanaṃ sendrā devāḥ śvamūmukhe | gṛhītvā tu patākāṃ vai yāty agre rākṣaso grahaḥ ||
Auf sein Geheiß vollzogen die Götter—Indra an der Spitze—seinen Befehl an der vordersten Front des Heeres. Und ein Rākṣasa namens Graha nahm das Banner des Heeres und marschierte voraus.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined obedience and orderly conduct: even the gods, led by Indra, execute a superior command at the army’s front, suggesting that power is meant to function within dharmic hierarchy and responsibility.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a military advance: the gods stand at the head of the formation carrying out the command, while a rākṣasa named Graha goes ahead bearing the army’s standard, signaling leadership and direction in the march.