Shloka 23
मातापितृपूजन-प्रधानधर्मः (Primacy of Filial Service) — Mārkaṇḍeya’s Account of the Vyādha’s Instruction
कुवलाश्रचस्य पुत्रैस्तु सर्वतः परिवारित:,उस समय राजा कुवलाश्चके पुत्रोंने सब ओरसे घेरकर उसपर आक्रमण किया। तीखे बाण, गदा, मुसल, पट्टिश, परिघ, प्रास और चमचमाते हुए तेज धारवाले खड़ग--इन सबके द्वारा चोट खाकर महाबली धुन्धु क्रोधित हो गया और उनके चलाये हुए नाना प्रकारके अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंको वह क्रोधी असुर खा गया
kuvalāśvasya putrais tu sarvataḥ parivāritaḥ | tadā rājā kuvalāśvasya putrair abhitaḥ parivṛtya tasminn ākrāntaḥ | tīkṣṇaiḥ bāṇaiḥ gadā-musalaiḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ parighaiḥ prāsaiś ca dīptaiḥ tīkṣṇa-dhāraiḥ khaḍgaiś ca tāḍitaḥ mahābalī dhundhuḥ kruddho 'bhavat | teṣāṃ prayuktān nānā-vidhān astrāṇi śastrāṇi ca sa kruddho 'suraḥ jagrāha (akhādat) |
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then Kuvalāśva’s sons surrounded him on every side and launched their assault. Struck by sharp arrows and by blows from clubs, maces, mallets, axes, iron bars, spears, and glittering swords with keen edges, the mighty Dhundhu flared up in wrath. In his fury, that asura swallowed up the many kinds of weapons—missiles and hand-arms alike—that they hurled at him.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how uncontrolled wrath can make conflict escalate and render ordinary means ineffective; it also implies that mere force and weaponry are not always sufficient—discernment, restraint, and right strategy are essential in dharmic action.
Kuvalāśva’s sons encircle and attack the mighty asura Dhundhu with many weapons. Wounded, Dhundhu becomes enraged and astonishingly consumes the various weapons hurled at him, showing his formidable power and the danger faced by the attackers.