Shloka 12
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Consolation to the King: Exempla of Rāma and the Efficacy of Allies (मार्कण्डेयाश्वासनम्)
खरो धनुषि विक्रान्तो ब्रह्मद्विट॒ पिशिताशन: । सिद्धविघ्नकरी चापि रौद्री शूर्पणखा तथा,खर थधर्नुर्विद्यामें विशेष पराक्रमी था। वह ब्राह्मणोंसे द्वेष रखनेवाला तथा मांसाहारी था। शूर्पणखाकी आकृति बड़ी भयानक थी। वह सिद्ध ऋषि-मुनियोंकी तपस्यामें विध्न डाला करती थी
kharo dhanuṣi vikrānto brahmadviṭ piśitāśanaḥ | siddhavigṇakarī cāpi raudrī śūrpaṇakhā tathā ||
Mārkaṇḍeya nói: “Khara vô cùng dũng mãnh trong việc dùng cung; hắn căm ghét các brāhmaṇa và là kẻ ăn thịt. Cũng vậy, Śūrpaṇakhā dữ tợn, hình dung ghê rợn, và thường gây chướng ngại cho sự khổ hạnh của các bậc hiền triết đã thành tựu.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts dharmic life—protecting brāhmaṇas and supporting tapas—with rākṣasa-like conduct marked by hostility to the sacred order and by disrupting ascetic practice. It implies that undermining spiritual discipline and harming the righteous is a clear sign of adharma.
Mārkaṇḍeya is describing the character and conduct of Khara and Śūrpaṇakhā: Khara is portrayed as a formidable archer but morally corrupt (anti-brāhmaṇa, flesh-eating), while Śūrpaṇakhā is depicted as terrifying and as one who interferes with the austerities of accomplished sages.