Shloka 19
Agni’s Withdrawal to the Forest and Identification with Āṅgirasa (अग्न्याङ्गिरस-इतिहासः)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ब्राह्मणं क्रोधसंतप्तं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा । दृष्टवा साध्वी मनुष्येन्द्र सान्त्वपूर्व वचो5ब्रवीत्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca brāhmaṇaṁ krodha-santaptaṁ jvalantam iva tejasā | dṛṣṭvā sādhvī manuṣyendra sāntva-pūrvaṁ vaco 'bravīt ||
Markandeya said: Seeing the brāhmaṇa scorched by anger, blazing as if with fiery splendor, the virtuous woman, O lord of men, first sought to soothe him and then spoke words of gentle conciliation. The scene underscores the ethical power of restraint: anger may flare like fire, but dharma begins with calming speech and self-control.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that dharma is upheld through restraint and gentle speech: when anger burns like fire, the righteous response is to soothe, de-escalate, and speak conciliatory words rather than inflame the situation.
Markandeya narrates that a virtuous woman, upon seeing a brāhmaṇa consumed by anger and blazing with tejas, addresses him calmly—beginning with words meant to pacify him before proceeding with what she has to say.