Shloka 96
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
सा मुक्ता भ्यहरत् तस्य महिषस्य शिरो महत् | पपात भिन्ने शिरसि महिषस्त्यक्तजीवित:,कुमारके हाथसे छूटते ही उस शक्तिने महिषासुरके महान् मस्तकको काट गिराया। सिर कट जानेपर महिषासुर प्राणशून्य होकर पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा
sā muktābhyaharat tasya mahiṣasya śiro mahat | papāta bhinne śirasi mahiṣas tyaktajīvitaḥ ||
Begitu dilepaskan dari tangan sang bocah, senjata-sakti itu menebas jatuh kepala besar sang siluman kerbau. Saat kepalanya terpenggal, Mahīṣa pun kehilangan nyawa dan roboh ke bumi.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Adharma sustained by brute force and pride is ultimately cut down when confronted by righteous power aligned with cosmic order; the verse underscores the inevitability of moral consequence and the protective function of divinely backed strength.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes the decisive moment of the battle: a released divine force/weapon strikes and severs the buffalo-demon’s head, and the demon, now lifeless, collapses to the ground.