Shloka 7
Adhyāya 290: Kuntī’s Mantra-Parīkṣā and the Appearance of Sūrya (कुन्ती–सूर्यसंवादः)
त्वमद्य निशितैर्बाणैहत्वा शत्रून्ू ससैनिकान् । प्रतिनन्दय मां पुत्र पुरा जित्वेव वासवम्,“बेटा! तुमने पूर्वकालमें इन्द्रको जीतकर जिस प्रकार मुझे आनन्दित किया था, उसी प्रकार आज तुम तीखे बाणोंसे सैनिकोंसहित शत्रुओंका संहार करके मेरा आनन्द बढ़ाओ'
tvam adya niśitair bāṇair hatvā śatrūn sa-sainikān | pratinandaya māṃ putra purā jitveva vāsavam ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “My son, today, having slain the enemies together with their troops by means of sharp arrows, gladden me—just as you once delighted me in former times by conquering Vāsava (Indra).”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the kṣatriya ideal of courageous action against hostile forces when duty calls, and highlights how present conduct should be worthy of one’s earlier standards of honor and achievement.
Mārkaṇḍeya addresses a hero as “son,” urging him to defeat and kill the enemies along with their troops using sharp arrows, and to bring him joy as the hero once did by conquering Indra (Vāsava).