Shloka 12
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Consolation to the King: Exempla of Rāma and the Efficacy of Allies (मार्कण्डेयाश्वासनम्)
खरो धनुषि विक्रान्तो ब्रह्मद्विट॒ पिशिताशन: । सिद्धविघ्नकरी चापि रौद्री शूर्पणखा तथा,खर थधर्नुर्विद्यामें विशेष पराक्रमी था। वह ब्राह्मणोंसे द्वेष रखनेवाला तथा मांसाहारी था। शूर्पणखाकी आकृति बड़ी भयानक थी। वह सिद्ध ऋषि-मुनियोंकी तपस्यामें विध्न डाला करती थी
kharo dhanuṣi vikrānto brahmadviṭ piśitāśanaḥ | siddhavigṇakarī cāpi raudrī śūrpaṇakhā tathā ||
Mārkaṇḍeya sprach: „Khara war überaus tapfer im Gebrauch des Bogens; er war ein Hasser der Brāhmaṇas und ein Fleischesser. Ebenso war Śūrpaṇakhā wild und von schreckenerregender Gestalt, und sie bereitete den Askesen vollendeter Weiser Hindernisse.“
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts dharmic life—protecting brāhmaṇas and supporting tapas—with rākṣasa-like conduct marked by hostility to the sacred order and by disrupting ascetic practice. It implies that undermining spiritual discipline and harming the righteous is a clear sign of adharma.
Mārkaṇḍeya is describing the character and conduct of Khara and Śūrpaṇakhā: Khara is portrayed as a formidable archer but morally corrupt (anti-brāhmaṇa, flesh-eating), while Śūrpaṇakhā is depicted as terrifying and as one who interferes with the austerities of accomplished sages.