Shloka 16
Duryodhana’s Departure toward Dvaītavana; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Caution and Śakuni’s Assurance
महाराज! इन्द्रके छोड़े हुए उस वज्ने शीघ्र ही कुमार कार्तिकेयकी दायीं पसलीपर गहरी चोट पहुँचायी और उन महामना स्कन्दके पार्श्रभागको क्षत-विक्षत कर दिया ।। वज्प्रहारात् स्कन्दस्य संजात: पुरुषो5पर: । युवा काञ्चनसंनाह: शक्तिधृग् दिव्यकुण्डल:,वज्रका प्रहार होनेपर स्कन्दके (उस दक्षिण पार्श्वसे) एक दूसरा वीर पुरुष प्रकट हुआ, जिसकी युवावस्था थी। उसने सुवर्णमय कवच धारण कर रखा था। उसके एक हाथमें शक्ति चमक रही थी और कानोंमें दिव्य कुण्डल झलमला रहे थे
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca | mahārāja! indreṇa tyakte tasmin vajre śīghraṃ kumārasya kārtikeyasya dakṣiṇapārśve gāḍhāṃ kṣatiṃ cakāra, mahāmanasaḥ skandasya pārśvabhāgaṃ kṣata-vikṣataṃ ca vyadhāt || vajraprahārāt skandasya saṃjātaḥ puruṣo 'paraḥ | yuvā kāñcanasaṃnāhaḥ śaktidhṛg divyakuṇḍalaḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “O great king, the thunderbolt released by Indra swiftly struck Kumāra Kārttikeya on his right side, tearing and mangling the flank of the high-souled Skanda. From that very blow of the vajra, another heroic man sprang forth from Skanda—youthful, clad in golden armor, holding a spear-weapon, and shining with divine earrings.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights divine resilience and the idea that even a devastating assault can become the occasion for renewed strength and manifestation. In epic ethics, true valor is not merely enduring injury but transforming adversity into a higher display of power and purpose.
Indra hurls his vajra at Skanda/Kārttikeya, wounding his right flank. From the impact of the thunderbolt, a second youthful warrior-form emerges from Skanda, adorned with golden armor, holding a spear, and wearing divine earrings—signaling an escalation of divine power rather than defeat.