Adhyāya 290: Kuntī’s Mantra-Parīkṣā and the Appearance of Sūrya (कुन्ती–सूर्यसंवादः)
तांश्व तौ चाप्यदृश्य: स शरैरविव्याथ राक्षस:
tān śva tau cāpy adṛśyaḥ sa śarair avivyātha rākṣasaḥ
Então aquele rākṣasa, ele próprio invisível, voltou a atingir os dois com uma chuva de flechas—ato de furtividade e agressão que acentua o contraste moral entre a violência oculta e o combate aberto e justo.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
The verse underscores an ethical tension central to the epic: violence carried out through concealment and deceit is portrayed as morally suspect when contrasted with straightforward, accountable combat aligned with dharma.
Markaṇḍeya describes a rākṣasa who remains unseen and nevertheless wounds the opposing pair by shooting arrows at them, escalating the danger through stealth.