Shloka 7
Dyumatsena’s Restoration and Sāvitrī’s Disclosure of Yama’s Boons (आरण्यकपर्व, अध्याय २८२)
स तामामन्त्र्य सुश्रोणीं पुष्पकेतुशराहत: । इदमित्यब्रवीद् वाक््यं त्रस्तां रीहीमिवाबलाम्,कामदेवके बाणोंसे घायल हुआ रावण मृगीके समान भयभीत हुई उस सुन्दरी अबलाको सम्बोधित करके इस प्रकार बोला--
sa tām āmantrya suśroṇīṃ puṣpaketuśarāhataḥ | idam ity abravīd vākyaṃ trastāṃ rīhīm ivābalām ||
花の旗を掲げる愛欲神の矢に射られたラーヴァナは、艶やかな腰つきの女に呼びかけた。怯えて雌鹿のように震えるか弱き美人を見て、彼はこう言い放った——
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how overpowering desire (kāma), personified as Kāma’s arrows, can disturb judgment and lead the powerful toward ethically dangerous conduct—especially when directed at the vulnerable. It implicitly warns that strength without restraint becomes a threat to dharma.
Markandeya narrates that Rāvaṇa, inflamed by desire as though wounded by Kāma’s arrows, approaches and addresses a beautiful woman who is trembling in fear like a doe, and begins to speak to her, introducing his forthcoming words.