Shloka 403
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
कमण्डलुश्नाप्यनु तं॑ महर्षिगणसेवित: । राजन! पट्टिशके पीछे भगवान् रुद्रका अत्यन्त प्रभापूर्ण छत्र जा रहा था और उसके पीछे महर्षियोंद्वारा सेवित कमण्डलु यात्रा कर रहा था
kamaṇḍaluś cāpy anu taṃ maharṣigaṇasevitaḥ | rājan! paṭṭiśake pṛṣṭhe bhagavān rudrakaḥ atyanta-prabhāpūrṇaṃ chatraṃ gacchati sma, tasya pṛṣṭhataḥ maharṣibhiḥ sevitaḥ kamaṇḍaluḥ yātrāṃ karoti sma |
Mārkaṇḍeya berkata: “Wahai Raja, mengiringinya bergerak sebuah kamaṇḍalu yang suci, dilayani oleh rombongan para maharsi. Di belakangnya, pada sebuah tongkat, melaju payung kebesaran yang amat bercahaya, milik Bhagavān Rudra. Demikianlah arak-arakan itu maju, bertanda laku tapa dan penghormatan para resi.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how true eminence is signaled by spiritual discipline and reverence: ascetic emblems like the kamaṇḍalu and the attendance of maharṣis indicate sanctity, while the radiant parasol symbolizes honor that follows dharma rather than mere worldly force.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a dignified movement/procession: a revered figure is being followed by a kamaṇḍalu attended by great sages, and behind there is an intensely radiant parasol associated with Rudra—visual markers of sacred presence and auspiciousness.