Shloka 12
कर्णेन्द्रविनिमयः
Karna–Indra Exchange of Kavaca-Kuṇḍala for the Vāsavī-Śakti
यस्य शाखामृगा मित्राण्यूक्षा: कालमुखास्तथा | जात्यन्तरगता राजजन्नेतद् बुद्धानुचिन्तय,राजन! दूसरी योनिके प्राणी वानर, लंगूर तथा रीछ ही उनके मित्र अथवा सहायक थे (किंतु तुम्हारे तो चार शूरवीर भाई सहायक हैं)। इस बातपर बुद्धिद्वारा विचार करो
yasya śākhāmṛgā mitrāṇy ṛkṣāḥ kālamukhās tathā | jātyantaragatā rājan etad buddhānu cintaya ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “O king, for him the monkeys of the forest—together with bears and the dark-faced ones—were friends and helpers, beings belonging to another species. Reflect on this with clear understanding: he had allies from other births, whereas you have your own four heroic brothers as support.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
To reflect wisely on one’s available support and not succumb to despair: even someone aided only by beings of another species could accomplish great ends, so a king with four heroic brothers should take heart and act with steadiness.
Mārkaṇḍeya is counseling a king, pointing to an exemplar who relied on forest-dwelling allies (monkeys/apes, bears, and other dark-faced helpers). He urges the king to consider this comparison and recognize the strength of his own human allies—his four brave brothers.