Shloka 66

Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve

Gandharva Encounter

Devanagari script

असुरैर्वध्यमानं तत्‌ पावकैरिव काननम्‌

Transliteration

asurair vadhyamānaṃ tat pāvakair iva kānanam

Translation

Markandeya said: “That (scene) was like a forest being consumed by fire—so too was it being ravaged by the Asuras.”

Word by Word

• असुरैः: by the demons
• असुरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वध्यमानम्: being slain / being attacked
• वध्यमानम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्यमान (वध् + य + मान)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पावकैः: by fires
• पावकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• इव: like / as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• काननम्: a forest
• काननम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Asuras
• fire (pāvaka)
• forest (kānana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a stark simile to highlight how unchecked violent forces devastate their surroundings, underscoring the ethical contrast between destructive adharma and the protective duty of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Markandeya describes a scene of overwhelming assault: the Asuras are wreaking havoc, and the devastation is compared to a forest being burned by spreading flames.