Shloka 206
Adhyāya 290: Kuntī’s Mantra-Parīkṣā and the Appearance of Sūrya (कुन्ती–सूर्यसंवादः)
रामस्तं देशमागम्य तत् सैन्यं पर्यरक्षत । अनेक प्रकारकी माया जाननेवाले उस राक्षसको अदृश्य हुआ जान भगवान् श्रीराम उस स्थानपर आकर सब ओरसे अपनी सेनाकी रक्षा करने लगे
rāmas taṃ deśam āgamya tat sainyaṃ paryarakṣata | aneka-prakārakīṃ māyāṃ jānanevāle tasya rākṣasasya adṛśya-bhāvaṃ jñātvā bhagavān śrīrāmaḥ tasmin sthāne āgatya sarvataḥ svāṃ senāṃ rakṣituṃ pravavṛte ||
Markandeya said: Having reached that region, Rama set about guarding the army. Realizing that the rākṣasa—skilled in many kinds of illusion—had become invisible, Lord Śrī Rāma came to that spot and began protecting his forces on all sides. Ethically, the passage highlights vigilant leadership: when deception and unseen threats arise, a righteous commander responds not with panic but with disciplined protection of those entrusted to him.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Righteous leadership requires alertness against deception and a duty-bound commitment to protect one’s people; when threats become hidden, the dhārmic response is disciplined safeguarding rather than fear or rash retaliation.
Markandeya narrates that Rama arrives at the location, understands the rākṣasa has used māyā to become invisible, and therefore stations himself to guard the army on all sides.