Shloka 10
Karṇa-kuṇḍala-kavaca-jijñāsā; Kuntibhoja’s hospitality and Pṛthā’s appointment (कर्णकुण्डलकवचजिज्ञासा)
विषहां यं हि यो मेने स स तेन समेयिवान् । युयुधे युद्धवेलायां स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित:,जो जिसे अपने जोड़का समझता था, उसीके साथ उसकी भिड़न्त हुई। सबलोग युद्धके समय अपने बाहुबलका आश्रय ले शत्रुका सामना करते थे
viṣahāṃ yaṃ hi yo mene sa sa tena sameyivān | yuyudhe yuddhavelāyāṃ svabāhubalam āśritaḥ ||
Markandeya said: “For whoever regarded another as his equal in prowess, it was with that very opponent that he came to close quarters. When the hour of battle arrived, each man, relying on the strength of his own arms, engaged the enemy face to face.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of meeting one’s match directly and depending on one’s own strength and courage in the decisive moment, rather than on external supports.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a battle scene where each warrior ends up confronting the very opponent he considers his equal, and the fighting proceeds with each relying on personal arm-strength at the critical hour.