Shloka 7
Duryodhana’s Departure toward Dvaītavana; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Caution and Śakuni’s Assurance
विनदन् पार्थ देवेशो द्रुतं याति महाबल: । संहर्षयन् देवसेनां जिघांसु: पावकात्मजम्,युधिष्ठिर! महाबली देवराज इन्द्र अग्निनन्दन स्कन्दको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे देवताओंकी सेनाका हर्ष बढ़ाते हुए तीव्र गतिसे विकट गर्जनाके साथ आगे बढ़ रहे थे
vinadan pārtha deveśo drutaṁ yāti mahābalaḥ | saṁharṣayan devasenāṁ jighāṁsuḥ pāvakātmajam, yudhiṣṭhira |
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “O Pārtha (Arjuna), the mighty Lord of the gods, Indra, moved swiftly forward with a fearsome roar. Intent on slaying the son of Fire (Skanda/Kārttikeya), he stirred the gods’ army to heightened ardor and confidence, urging them on toward battle.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a leader’s power to shape collective morale: Indra’s decisive advance and thunderous presence energize the devas’ army. Ethically, it also frames the tension between righteous order and violent intent—how even divine authority can be driven by the will to destroy, reminding readers to examine intention (saṅkalpa) alongside power.
Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that Indra, the lord of the gods, rushes forward with a loud roar, inflaming the enthusiasm of the gods’ forces. His stated aim is to kill the ‘son of Fire,’ i.e., Skanda/Kārttikeya, indicating an impending clash among divine powers.