Shloka 4

Pṛthā’s Atithi-Sevā and the Gift of the Deva-Āhvāna Mantra (पृथायाः अतिथिसेवा तथा देवाह्वानमन्त्रप्रदानम्)

Devanagari script

करजैरतुदंश्वान्ये विहाय भयमुत्तमम्‌ । बहुधा युध्यमानास्ते युद्धमार्गैं: प्लवज्भमा:

Transliteration

karajair atudaṁśvānye vihāya bhayam uttamam | bahudhā yudhyamānās te yuddha-mārgaiḥ plavaj-bhamāḥ ||

Translation

மார்கண்டேயர் கூறினார்— மற்ற வானரரும் மிகப் பெரிய அச்சத்தையும் தள்ளிவிட்டு, கைகளால் தாக்கி, போரின் பல்வேறு வழிகளிலும் இடைவெளிகளிலும் தாவி ஓடி பல விதமாகப் போரிட்டனர்।

Word by Word

करजैःwith claws/nails

ऋतुदंश्वान्येother ṛtudaṃśvans (a class of beings/creatures)

विहायhaving abandoned; leaving aside

भयम्fear

उत्तमम्great; highest

बहुधाin many ways; repeatedly

युध्यमानाःfighting

तेthey

युद्धमार्गैःby/with ways (methods/paths) of fighting

प्लवज्भमाmonkeys (plavagas)

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights courage under pressure: even when fear is at its peak, one may choose steadfast action and resolve, a quality praised in epic ethics when aligned with rightful duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a chaotic combat scene where some fighters, abandoning intense fear, strike with their hands and engage in varied tactics—leaping and maneuvering along different battle-lines or openings.