Shloka 50
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
तस्य कुर्वन्ति वचन सेन्द्रा देवा श्वमूमुखे । गृहीत्वा तु पताकां वै यात्यग्रे राक्षसो ग्रह:,इन्द्र आदि देवता सेनाके मुहानेपर उपस्थित हो भगवान् शिवके आदेशका पालन करते थे। एक राक्षस ग्रह सेनाका झंडा लेकर आगे-आगे चलता था
tasya kurvanti vacanaṃ sendrā devāḥ śvamūmukhe | gṛhītvā tu patākāṃ vai yāty agre rākṣaso grahaḥ ||
Di barisan terdepan pasukan, para dewa—Indra dan yang lainnya—melaksanakan titahnya. Dan seorang rākṣasa bernama Graha, setelah menggenggam panji pasukan, berjalan mendahului semuanya.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined obedience and orderly conduct: even the gods, led by Indra, execute a superior command at the army’s front, suggesting that power is meant to function within dharmic hierarchy and responsibility.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a military advance: the gods stand at the head of the formation carrying out the command, while a rākṣasa named Graha goes ahead bearing the army’s standard, signaling leadership and direction in the march.