Shloka 403
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
कमण्डलुश्नाप्यनु तं॑ महर्षिगणसेवित: । राजन! पट्टिशके पीछे भगवान् रुद्रका अत्यन्त प्रभापूर्ण छत्र जा रहा था और उसके पीछे महर्षियोंद्वारा सेवित कमण्डलु यात्रा कर रहा था
kamaṇḍaluś cāpy anu taṃ maharṣigaṇasevitaḥ | rājan! paṭṭiśake pṛṣṭhe bhagavān rudrakaḥ atyanta-prabhāpūrṇaṃ chatraṃ gacchati sma, tasya pṛṣṭhataḥ maharṣibhiḥ sevitaḥ kamaṇḍaluḥ yātrāṃ karoti sma |
マールカンデーヤは言った。「王よ、彼の後には聖なる水壺カマンダルが続き、多くの大聖仙（リシ）たちに取り囲まれて奉仕されつつ進んだ。さらにその後ろ、杖あるいは竿に掲げられて、尊きルドラに結びつく、比類なく輝く天蓋の傘が行列に従った。かくして隊列は前へ進み、苦行の標章と賢者たちの敬礼に彩られていた――真の光輝は、ただの武力ではなく、霊的権威と厳しい規律によってこそ授けられることを示していた。」
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how true eminence is signaled by spiritual discipline and reverence: ascetic emblems like the kamaṇḍalu and the attendance of maharṣis indicate sanctity, while the radiant parasol symbolizes honor that follows dharma rather than mere worldly force.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a dignified movement/procession: a revered figure is being followed by a kamaṇḍalu attended by great sages, and behind there is an intensely radiant parasol associated with Rudra—visual markers of sacred presence and auspiciousness.