Shloka 21
Adhyaya 2 — The Lineage of Garuda and the Birth of the Wise Birds: Kanka and Kandhara
यदि ते निहतो भ्राता पौरुषं तद्धि दर्शितम् । त्वामप्यद्य हनिष्ये ऽहं खड्गेनानेन खेचर ॥
yadi te nihato bhrātā pauruṣaṃ taddhi darśitam / tvāmapyadya haniṣye 'haṃ khaḍgenānena khecara
നിന്റെ സഹോദരൻ കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടുവെങ്കിൽ, അവിടെ എന്റെ പരാക്രമമാണ് തെളിയിക്കപ്പെട്ടത്. അല്ലയോ ഖേചരാ (പക്ഷീ), ഇന്ന് ഈ വാളുകൊണ്ട് ഞാൻ നിന്നെയും കൊല്ലും.
FAQs
The verse illustrates the Kshatriya code where killing an enemy in battle is not a matter of regret but a demonstration of 'Paurusha' (manliness/valor). The speaker uses the death of the opponent's brother as proof of his martial capability rather than a reason for apology.
'Khecara' literally means 'one who moves in the sky'. In the context of the Markandeya Purana's early chapters, this typically refers to a Vidyadhara, Gandharva, or Rakshasa who interacts with the terrestrial protagonists, often leading to the curses or events that result in the birth of the narrator-birds.
This verse is part of the 'Upodghata' (introduction) or frame story explaining the origin of the four wise birds (Dharmapakshis) who subsequently narrate the bulk of the Purana to Jaimini.