Shloka 11
Āraṇyaka-parva Adhyāya 277 — Sāvitrī-Upākhyāna: Aśvapati’s Vows and Sāvitrī’s Birth; Search for a Suitable Husband Begins
शक्रप्रभृतयश्चैव सर्वे ते सुरसत्तमा: । वानरक्_्षवरस्त्रीषु जनयामासुरात्मजान्,इन्द्र आदि समस्त श्रेष्ठ देवता भी वानरों तथा रीछोंकी उत्तम स्त्रियोंसे संतान उत्पन्न करने लगे। वे सब वानर और रीछ यश तथा बलमें अपने पिता देवताओंके समान ही हुए। वे पर्वतोंक शिखर तोड़ डालनेकी शक्ति रखते थे एवं शाल (साखू) और ताल (ताड़)-के वृक्ष तथा पत्थरोंकी चट्टानें ही उनके आयुध थे
śakra-prabhṛtayaś caiva sarve te sura-sattamāḥ | vānara-ṛkṣa-vara-strīṣu janayāmāsur ātmajān ||
Mārkaṇḍeya disse: “Indra e os demais, os mais eminentes entre os celestiais, geraram seus próprios filhos nas melhores fêmeas entre os macacos e os ursos. Assim nasceram heróis macacos e ursos, iguais a seus pais divinos em fama e força—capazes de despedaçar picos de montanhas, e tomando como armas árvores sāla e tāla e grandes rochedos.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights providential support for dharma: when a great task requires extraordinary aid, higher powers generate capable allies. It also frames strength as purposeful—meant to uphold righteous aims rather than mere display.
Mārkaṇḍeya explains the origin of powerful monkey- and bear-heroes: Indra and other leading gods father children through the best females among vānaras and ṛkṣas, producing warriors of divine-like fame and strength who wield trees and rocks and can break mountain peaks.