Shloka 7
Pṛthā’s Atithi-Sevā and the Gift of the Deva-Āhvāna Mantra (पृथायाः अतिथिसेवा तथा देवाह्वानमन्त्रप्रदानम्)
उदक्रोशन् परित्रस्तास्तारप्रभूतयस्तदा । राक्षस कुम्भकर्णका यह दुःखदायी कर्म देखकर तार आदि वानर भयभीत हो जोर- जोरसे चीत्कार करने लगे ।। तानुच्चै: क्रोशत: सैन्याउछुत्वा स हरियूथपान्
udakrośan paritrastās tārāprabhūtayas tadā | rākṣasa-kumbhakarṇaka-yaḥ duḥkhadāyī karma dṛṣṭvā tārādayo vānara-bhayabhītā jor-jorase cītkāraṁ kartum ārebhire || tān uccaiḥ krośataḥ sainyān śrutvā sa hari-yūthapān ||
Markandeya said: “Then Tara and the others, terrified, cried out loudly. Seeing the cruel, sorrow-bringing deed of the rakshasa Kumbhakarna, the monkeys beginning with Tara were seized by fear and raised repeated shrieks. Hearing those troops wailing aloud, that leader of the monkey-bands responded (turning his attention toward them).”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear spreads through a community when confronted with cruel, harmful action, and it implicitly points to the ethical weight of deeds (karma) that cause suffering—calling for steadiness and responsible leadership in moments of panic.
Tara and other vanaras witness Kumbhakarna’s distressing act and cry out in terror; their loud wailing is heard by the leaders of the monkey troops, prompting a response from the vanara leadership.