Shloka 22
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
तेन वीरेण शुशुभे स शैल: शुभकानन: । आदित्येनेवांशुमता मन्दरश्वलारुकन्दर:,जैसे अंशुमाली सूर्यके उदयसे मनोहर कन्दरावाले मन्दराचलकी शोभा होती है, उसी प्रकार वीरवर स्कन्दके निवाससे सुन्दर वनवाले उस श्वेतगिरिकी शोभा बढ़ गयी थी
tena vīreṇa śuśubhe sa śailaḥ śubhakānanaḥ | ādityenevāṃśumatā mandaraś cārukandaraḥ ||
その山は、めでたい森々に飾られ、あの勇士の臨在によっていよいよ輝きを増した。光線を放つ太陽の昇るとき、麗しい洞窟をもつマンダラ山が照り映えるように、第一の英雄スカンダがシュヴェータギリを住処としたとき、その美もまた増し加わった。
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the presence of a great and virtuous power (here, the heroic Skanda) enhances the splendor of a place—suggesting that excellence and sanctity are not merely inherent but are intensified by association with the noble, much as sunlight reveals and magnifies natural beauty.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a mountain landscape: Śvetagiri, rich in fine forests, becomes especially radiant because Skanda dwells there. The poet reinforces this with a simile: Mandara shines when the sun rises, so Śvetagiri shines with Skanda’s residence.