Shloka 20
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
यानि क्रीडनकान्यस्य देवैर्दत्तानि वै तदा । तैरेव रमते देवो महासेनो महाबल:
yāni krīḍanakāny asya devair dattāni vai tadā | tair eva ramate devo mahāseno mahābalaḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya nói: “Chính những món đồ chơi mà chư thiên đã từng ban cho ngài khi ấy—chỉ với những thứ ấy thôi, vị thần hùng mạnh Mahāsena, đầy đại lực, lấy làm vui thích.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the sanctity and enduring value of divine gifts: what is bestowed by the gods remains a fitting source of joy and auspiciousness. It also subtly portrays the deity’s simplicity—delight arising not from excess, but from what is rightly given.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes Mahāsena (Skanda/Kārttikeya) enjoying himself with the very playthings previously granted to him by the gods, emphasizing his divine yet childlike aspect within the mythic account.