Shloka 90
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
तथाभूते तु भगवान् नावधीन्महिषं रणे । सस्मार च तदा स्कनदं मृत्युं तस्य दुरात्मन:,उस अवस्थामें भी भगवान् रुद्रने युद्धमें महिषासुरको स्वयं नहीं मारा किंतु उस दुरात्मा दानवकी मृत्यु जिनके हाथोंसे होनेवाली थी, उन कुमार कार्तिकेयका स्मरण किया
tathābhūte tu bhagavān nāvadhīn mahiṣaṃ raṇe | sasmāra ca tadā skandaṃ mṛtyuṃ tasya durātmanaḥ ||
即便在那般情势之下，至福之主（鲁陀罗）也未亲手在战场上诛杀摩醯沙。相反，他当即忆念斯坎达——注定成为那恶徒之死者——以示邪恶的覆灭可由天命所定之器来完成，而非必由至高神力亲自出手。
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights divine order and moral causality: even when supreme power is present, the destruction of adharma may occur through the destined agent (Skanda), underscoring that outcomes unfold through appointed instruments within cosmic law.
Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that Rudra does not personally kill the buffalo-demon Mahiṣa in the battle; instead, he recalls/invokes Skanda, who is fated to become the demon’s slayer.