Shloka 17
Pṛthā’s Atithi-Sevā and the Gift of the Deva-Āhvāna Mantra (पृथायाः अतिथिसेवा तथा देवाह्वानमन्त्रप्रदानम्)
तानप्यस्य भुजान् सर्वान् प्रगृहीतशिलायुधान् | क्षुरैश्निच्छेद लघ्वस्त्रं सौमित्रि: प्रतिदर्शयन्,उन चारों भुजाओंमें भी उसने आयुधके रूपमें बड़ी-बड़ी चट्टानें उठा लीं। यह देख सुमित्राकुमारने अपने हाथोंकी फुर्ती दिखाते हुए फिरसे पूर्वोक्त बाण मारकर उसकी उन चारों भुजाओंको भी काट दिया
tān apy asya bhujān sarvān pragṛhīta-śilāyudhān | kṣuraiś niccheda laghv-astraṃ saumitriḥ pratidarśayan ||
He too seized up all those arms, lifting massive rocks as his weapons. Seeing this, Saumitrī displayed the swiftness of his light, precise archery and, with razor-edged arrows, swiftly severed those four arms as well—showing that disciplined skill and alert restraint can overcome brute force and violent escalation.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts brute force (wielding rocks) with disciplined, precise skill (swift archery). Ethically, it highlights controlled strength—using measured force to neutralize danger rather than indulging in uncontrolled violence.
The opponent lifts large rocks as weapons in all his arms. Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa) responds by demonstrating rapid, sharp archery and cuts off those arms as well, preventing the attack.