Shloka 3
द्वैतवन-सरः प्रवेशविघ्नः
Dvaītavana Lake: Obstructed Entry
कुमारास्ते विशाखं च पितृत्वे समकल्पयन् | स भूत्वा भगवान् संख्ये रक्ष॑श्छागमुखस्तदा
kumārās te viśākhaṃ ca pitṛtve samakalpayan | sa bhūtvā bhagavān saṅkhye rakṣaś chāgamukhas tadā
Mārkaṇḍeya berkata: Para pemuda itu juga melantik Viśākha sebagai bapa mereka. Lalu makhluk suci yang dimuliakan itu, di tengah gelanggang perang, menjelma sebagai seorang rākṣasa bermuka kambing dan bertindak menurut peranan yang telah dianugerahkan kepadanya.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that social and ritual authority (such as ‘fatherhood’ or guardianship) can be conferred by collective decision, and that power may manifest in intimidating forms in times of crisis—inviting reflection on rightful authority, protection, and moral steadiness amid fear.
Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that a group of youths designated Viśākha to act as their father/guardian; subsequently, a revered figure assumes a goat-faced rākṣasa form in the context of battle, indicating a dramatic transformation connected with the unfolding conflict.