Shloka 20
Adhyāya 290: Kuntī’s Mantra-Parīkṣā and the Appearance of Sūrya (कुन्ती–सूर्यसंवादः)
अन्तर्हितं विदित्वा तं बहुमायं च राक्षसम्
antarhitaṃ viditvā taṃ bahumāyaṃ ca rākṣasam
Al comprender que había desaparecido de la vista y reconocerlo como un rākṣasa diestro en múltiples artes de engaño, Mārkaṇḍeya presenta el instante como uno que exige vigilancia y discernimiento: cuando el mal se oculta mediante la ilusión, primero hay que atravesar el velo antes de obrar conforme al dharma.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights viveka (discernment): when confronted with concealed wrongdoing and illusion, ethical action begins with correctly recognizing the nature of the threat—seeing through māyā rather than reacting blindly.
Mārkaṇḍeya notes that the figure has become hidden and identifies him as a rākṣasa endowed with many deceptive powers, setting up the next response to an unseen, illusion-using adversary.