Shloka 6
Adhyāya 290: Kuntī’s Mantra-Parīkṣā and the Appearance of Sūrya (कुन्ती–सूर्यसंवादः)
अकृता या प्रहस्तेन कुम्भकर्णेन चानघ । खरस्यापचिति: संख्ये तां गच्छ त्वं महाभुज,“निष्पाप महाबाहो! प्रहस्त और कुम्भकर्णने भी खरके वधका जो बदला नहीं चुकाया, उसे युद्धमें तुम चुकाओ
akṛtā yā prahastena kumbhakarṇena cānagha | kharasya apacitiḥ saṅkhye tāṃ gaccha tvaṃ mahābhuja ||
അനഘ മഹാബാഹോ! പ്രഹസ്തനും കുംഭകർണനും ഖരന്റെ വധത്തിനുള്ള പ്രതികാരം ഇതുവരെ തീർത്തിട്ടില്ല; അത് നീ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ തീർക്കുക—പുറപ്പെടുക.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames vengeance/requital as an obligation to be fulfilled: an unpaid debt of retribution (apaciti) must be discharged in the proper arena—battle—highlighting a warrior-ethic where honor and duty require answering prior harm.
Mārkaṇḍeya addresses a mighty warrior, urging him to go to combat and complete the unfinished retaliation for Khara’s death—something Prahasta and Kumbhakarṇa have not yet carried out—thereby pressing him toward decisive action in war.