Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
तस्य दक्षिणतो भाति दण्डो गच्छन् श्रिया वृत:
tasya dakṣiṇato bhāti daṇḍo gacchan śriyā vṛtaḥ
ಅವನ ಬಲಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಶುಭಶ್ರೀಯಿಂದ ಆವರಿತವಾದ ದಂಡವು ಸಾಗುತ್ತಾ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Righteous authority (daṇḍa) is not mere force; when aligned with dharma it is accompanied by śrī—legitimacy, auspiciousness, and moral radiance—signaling disciplined governance rather than arbitrary punishment.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes an auspicious sign: on the figure’s right side a staff is seen proceeding, shining and surrounded by splendor, indicating the presence of orderly power and protective, dharmic rule.