Shloka 6
Adhyāya 290: Kuntī’s Mantra-Parīkṣā and the Appearance of Sūrya (कुन्ती–सूर्यसंवादः)
अकृता या प्रहस्तेन कुम्भकर्णेन चानघ । खरस्यापचिति: संख्ये तां गच्छ त्वं महाभुज,“निष्पाप महाबाहो! प्रहस्त और कुम्भकर्णने भी खरके वधका जो बदला नहीं चुकाया, उसे युद्धमें तुम चुकाओ
akṛtā yā prahastena kumbhakarṇena cānagha | kharasya apacitiḥ saṅkhye tāṃ gaccha tvaṃ mahābhuja ||
Mārkaṇḍeya disse: “Ó irrepreensível, ó de braços poderosos, a retribuição devida a Khara, que Prahasta e Kumbhakarṇa não pagaram na batalha, deves pagá-la agora. Vai, ó grande-armed, e quita essa dívida no combate.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames vengeance/requital as an obligation to be fulfilled: an unpaid debt of retribution (apaciti) must be discharged in the proper arena—battle—highlighting a warrior-ethic where honor and duty require answering prior harm.
Mārkaṇḍeya addresses a mighty warrior, urging him to go to combat and complete the unfinished retaliation for Khara’s death—something Prahasta and Kumbhakarṇa have not yet carried out—thereby pressing him toward decisive action in war.