Shloka 12
मातापितृपूजन-प्रधानधर्मः (Primacy of Filial Service) — Mārkaṇḍeya’s Account of the Vyādha’s Instruction
सहसौरेकविंशत्या पुत्राणामरिमर्दन: । कुवलाश्वो नरपतिरन्वितो बलशालिनाम्,शत्रुमर्दन महाराज कुवलाश्व अपने इकक््कीस हजार बलवान पुत्रोंकी साथ लेकर (सेनासहित) चले थे
sahasrair ekaviṁśatyā putrāṇām arimardanaḥ | kuvalāśvo narapatir anvito balaśālinām ||
Sinabi ni Mārkaṇḍeya: O tagadurog ng kaaway, si Haring Kuvalāśva ay lumisan na kasama ang kaniyang makapangyarihang mga anak—dalawampu’t isang libo ang bilang—taglay ang lakas ng isang dambuhalang hukbo, upang supilin ang mga kaaway. Ipinahihiwatig ng talatang ito ang pananagutang panghari: ang kapangyarihan at ang lahi ay dapat iukol sa pag-iingat ng kaayusan at pagpigil sa mapanirang puwersa, hindi sa padalus-dalos na pananalakay.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal power—symbolized by a vast, strong progeny and military support—should be exercised as a dharmic duty: to restrain hostile forces and uphold order, rather than for personal pride or needless violence.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes King Kuvalāśva setting out, accompanied by his twenty-one thousand powerful sons, indicating a major royal expedition or campaign framed as the subduing of enemies.