Shloka 17
Āraṇyaka Parva, Adhyāya 233 — Pandavas Mobilize; Arjuna’s Conciliation and the Onset of Combat
सनातनानामपि शाश्रृतस्त्वं प्रभु: प्रभूणामपि चोग्रधन्वा । ऋतस्य कर्ता दितिजान्तकस्त्व॑ जेता रिपूणां प्रवर: सुराणाम्,आप सनातनोंमें भी सनातन हैं। प्रभुओंके भी प्रभु हैं। आपका धनुष भयंकर है। आप सत्यके प्रवर्तक, दैत्योंका संहार करनेवाले, शत्रुविजयी तथा देवताओंमें श्रेष्ठ हैं
sanātanānām api śāśvatas tvaṃ prabhuḥ prabhūṇām api cogra-dhanvā | ṛtasya kartā ditijāntakas tvaṃ jetā ripūṇāṃ pravaraḥ surāṇām ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “You are eternal even among the eternals; you are the lord even of lords, O wielder of the terrible bow. You are the establisher of ṛta (the true cosmic order), the destroyer of the Diti-born demons, the conqueror of foes, and the foremost among the gods.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that true sovereignty is grounded in upholding ṛta—truth and right order. The divine is praised not merely for power, but for establishing moral-cosmic order and removing forces (Daityas/enemies) that disrupt it.
Mārkaṇḍeya delivers a hymn of praise (stuti) to a supreme divine figure characterized as a formidable archer, affirming his eternal nature, lordship over all rulers, and his role as protector of the gods through the destruction of demonic adversaries.