Shloka 24
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Consolation to the King: Exempla of Rāma and the Efficacy of Allies (मार्कण्डेयाश्वासनम्)
(तत्पश्चात् उन्होंने रावणकी ओर लक्ष्य करके कहा--) तुमने महत्त्वपूर्ण पद प्राप्त करनेकी इच्छासे अपने जिन-जिन मस्तकोंकी अग्निमें आहुति दी है, वे सब-के-सब पूर्ववत् तुम्हारे शरीरमें इच्छानुसार जुड़ जायँगे ।। वैरूप्यं च न ते देहे कामरूपधरस्तथा । भविष्यसि रणे5रीणां विजेता न च संशय:,तुम्हारे शरीरमें किसी प्रकारकी कुरूपता नहीं होगी, तुम इच्छानुसार रूप धारण कर सकोगे तथा युद्धमें शत्रुओंपर विजयी होओगे, इसमें संशय नहीं है
tataḥ paścāt rāvaṇaṃ prati lakṣya provāca—tvayā mahattvapada-prāptikāṅkṣayā ye ye mastakā agnau juhūyante te sarve pūrvavad icchānusāraṃ tava śarīre punar api yojayiṣyante. vairūpyaṃ ca na te dehe kāmarūpadharas tathā bhaviṣyasi raṇe 'rīṇāṃ vijetā na ca saṃśayaḥ.
Then, fixing his gaze on Rāvaṇa, Mārkaṇḍeya declared: “All the heads you have offered into the fire, driven by the desire to attain a lofty station, will be restored to your body just as before, rejoining you at will. No deformity will remain in your frame; you will be able to assume forms as you please; and in battle you will be a conqueror of your enemies—of this there is no doubt.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Austerity and self-offering can generate extraordinary power and divine-like capacities, but the verse implicitly raises an ethical question: such power is morally neutral and becomes auspicious or destructive depending on the wielder’s intent—here foreshadowed by its linkage to victory in war.
Mārkaṇḍeya addresses Rāvaṇa and confirms a boon: the heads Rāvaṇa has sacrificed into the fire to gain greatness will be restored; he will not be disfigured, will be able to change form at will, and will be victorious over enemies in battle.