Shloka 29
मातापितृपूजन-प्रधानधर्मः (Primacy of Filial Service) — Mārkaṇḍeya’s Account of the Vyādha’s Instruction
त॑ प्रबुद्धं महात्मानं कुम्भकर्णमिवापरम् | आससाद महातेजा: कुवलाश्वो महीपति:,भरतश्रेष्ठी] जब सभी राजकुमार धुन्धुकी क्रोधाग्निसे दग्ध हो गये, तब महातेजस्वी राजा कुवलाश्वने दूसरे कुम्भकर्णके- समान जगे हुए उस महाकाय दानवपर आक्रमण किया
taṁ prabuddhaṁ mahātmānaṁ kumbhakarṇam ivāparam | āsasāda mahātejāḥ kuvalāśvo mahīpatiḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then the mighty king Kuvalāśva, blazing with valor, advanced to confront that awakened, great-souled foe—like another Kumbhakarṇa risen from sleep. In the wake of the princes being consumed by Dhundhu’s wrathful fire, the king alone takes up the burden of resistance, embodying the ruler’s duty to protect and to face danger when others have fallen.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights rājadharma and kṣatriya-dharma: when others are overwhelmed, the rightful ruler must not retreat but personally confront danger to uphold protection and order.
After the princes are burned by the fiery rage of Dhundhu (as indicated by the surrounding narration), King Kuvalāśva advances to attack the now-awakened, massive adversary, compared to a second Kumbhakarṇa.