Shloka 6
Karṇa-kuṇḍala-kavaca-jijñāsā; Kuntibhoja’s hospitality and Pṛthā’s appointment (कर्णकुण्डलकवचजिज्ञासा)
युद्धशास्त्रविधानज्ञ उशना इव चापर: । व्यूह्ू चौशनसं व्यूहं हरीनभ्यवहारयत्,वह दूसरे शुक्राचार्यके समान युद्धशास्त्रके विधानका ज्ञाता था। उसने शुक्राचार्यके मतके अनुसार व्यूह-रचना करके सब वानरोंको घेर लिया
yuddhaśāstravidhānajña uśanā iva cāparaḥ | vyūhaṃ cāuśanasaṃ vyūhaṃ harīn abhyavahārayat ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “He was a master of the ordinances of the science of war, like another Uśanā (Śukrācārya). Forming a battle-array in accordance with Uśanā’s doctrine, he pressed in upon the monkeys and enclosed them on all sides.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that warfare is governed by codified knowledge (yuddhaśāstra) and that tactical expertise can decisively shape outcomes; it implicitly warns that strength without disciplined strategy is vulnerable to being outmaneuvered.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a commander so skilled in war-craft that he is compared to Uśanā (Śukrācārya). Using a formation prescribed in Śukra’s tradition, he arranges a vyūha and successfully encircles the vanara forces.