Shloka 18
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
ऐरावतस्य घण्टे द्वे वैजयन्त्याविति श्रुते । गुहस्य ते स्वयं दत्ते क्रमेणानाय्य धीमता,इन्द्रके ऐरावत हाथीके उपयोगमें आनेवाले जो दो “वैजयन्ती” नामसे विख्यात घण्टे थे, उन्हें बुद्धिमान इन्द्रने क्रमश: ले आकर स्वयं कुमार कार्तिकेयको अर्पण कर दिया
airāvatasya ghaṇṭe dve vaijayantyāv iti śrute | guhasya te svayaṃ datte krameṇānāyya dhīmatā ||
Mārkaṇḍeya nói: “Nghe rằng voi Airāvata có hai chiếc chuông lừng danh mang tên ‘Vaijayantī’. Indra bậc trí đã lần lượt đem chúng đến và tự tay dâng lên Guha (Kārttikeya).”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights reverent generosity: even symbols of royal/divine prestige (Airāvata’s famed bells) are best used as offerings to the worthy, modeling humility and proper honoring of spiritual authority.
Mārkaṇḍeya reports a traditional account: two celebrated bells called ‘Vaijayantī’, associated with Indra’s elephant Airāvata, were brought by Indra and given in sequence to Guha, i.e., Kārttikeya (Skanda).