Shloka 14
भद्रवटगमनम् — स्कन्देन महिषदानवनिग्रहः
Bhadravaṭa Procession and Skanda’s Neutralization of Mahiṣa
त्रिविध॑ संस्थिता होते पडच पञठ्च पृथक् पृथक् । मुष्णन्त्यत्र स्थिता होते स्वर्गतो यज्ञयाजिन:
trividhā saṃsthitā hy ete pañca ca pañca pṛthak pṛthak | muṣṇanty atra sthitā hy ete svargato yajñayājinaḥ ||
Markandeya berkata: Kelima belas makhluk itu tersusun dalam tiga kelompok yang terpisah, masing-masing berisi lima. Walau mereka menetap di bumi, mereka merampas perlengkapan yajña milik para pelaksana kurban seakan-akan mencurinya dari surga, sehingga menghalangi jalannya laku ritual yang benar.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that even righteous acts like sacrifice can be hindered by disruptive forces; vigilance, purity of practice, and protective rites are implied to safeguard dharmic action from theft and obstruction.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a set of powerful beings arranged as fifteen in three bands of five. Though present on earth, they are said to steal the offerings and requisites of sacrificers, undermining yajña.