Shloka 5
सूर्य–कर्णोपदेशः
Sūrya’s Counsel to Karṇa on Kīrti and the Kuṇḍala
गन्धमादनवासी तु प्रथितो गन्धमादन: । कोटीशतसहस््राणि हरीणां समकर्षत,गन्धमादन पर्वतपर रहनेवाला गन्धमादन नामसे विख्यात वानर वानरोंकी दस खरब सेना साथ लेकर आया
Gandhamādanavāsī tu prathito Gandhamādanaḥ | koṭīśatasahasrāṇi harīṇāṃ samākarṣat |
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “There was a renowned monkey named Gandhamādana, dwelling on Mount Gandhamādana. He gathered and brought together countless troops of monkeys—numbering in the hundreds of crores and thousands—thus swelling the strength of the vanara host.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the power of collective effort and capable leadership: a renowned leader can unite vast numbers toward a shared purpose, suggesting that strength arises from organized unity rather than mere individual prowess.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a famous vanara named Gandhamādana, resident of Mount Gandhamādana, who musters an enormous multitude of monkeys—an image of a rapidly expanding allied force.