Shloka 11
Dyumatsena’s Restoration and Sāvitrī’s Disclosure of Yama’s Boons (आरण्यकपर्व, अध्याय २८२)
चतुर्दश पिशाचानां कोट्यो मे वचने स्थिता: । द्विस्तावत् पुरुषादानां रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्,“चौदह करोड़ पिशाच मेरी आज्ञाके अधीन रहते हैं। इनसे दूने नरभक्षी राक्षस मेरे सेवक हैं, जो अत्यन्त भयंकर कर्म करनेवाले हैं
caturdaśa piśācānāṁ koṭyo me vacane sthitāḥ | dvis tāvat puruṣādānāṁ rakṣasāṁ bhīmakarmaṇām ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Fourteen crores of Piśācas stand obedient to my command; and twice that number of man-eating Rākṣasas—of dreadful deeds—serve under me.” In context, the statement underscores the speaker’s formidable spiritual authority and the moral warning that power over fearsome beings is not mere violence, but disciplined mastery and responsibility.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
True authority is shown as disciplined mastery: even terrifying forces (Piśācas and man-eating Rākṣasas) can be held in check by a higher moral-spiritual power, implying responsibility rather than indulgence in fear or violence.
Mārkaṇḍeya declares the extent of his command: vast hosts of Piśācas obey him, and an even larger number of fearsome, man-eating Rākṣasas serve him—emphasizing his formidable stature and the protective or deterrent force he can wield.