Shloka 6
Karṇa-kuṇḍala-kavaca-jijñāsā; Kuntibhoja’s hospitality and Pṛthā’s appointment (कर्णकुण्डलकवचजिज्ञासा)
युद्धशास्त्रविधानज्ञ उशना इव चापर: । व्यूह्ू चौशनसं व्यूहं हरीनभ्यवहारयत्,वह दूसरे शुक्राचार्यके समान युद्धशास्त्रके विधानका ज्ञाता था। उसने शुक्राचार्यके मतके अनुसार व्यूह-रचना करके सब वानरोंको घेर लिया
yuddhaśāstravidhānajña uśanā iva cāparaḥ | vyūhaṃ cāuśanasaṃ vyūhaṃ harīn abhyavahārayat ||
Mārkaṇḍeya berkata: “Dia menguasai ketetapan ilmu peperangan, bagaikan seorang Uśanā (Śukrācārya) yang lain. Dengan membentuk susunan tempur menurut ajaran Uśanā, dia menekan kaum Vānara dan mengepung mereka dari segala arah.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that warfare is governed by codified knowledge (yuddhaśāstra) and that tactical expertise can decisively shape outcomes; it implicitly warns that strength without disciplined strategy is vulnerable to being outmaneuvered.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a commander so skilled in war-craft that he is compared to Uśanā (Śukrācārya). Using a formation prescribed in Śukra’s tradition, he arranges a vyūha and successfully encircles the vanara forces.