Shloka 26

कुन्ती द्वारा ब्राह्मण-सेवा

Kuntī’s Regulated Hospitality to a Brāhmaṇa Guest

Devanagari script

तस्य नान्यो निहन्तास्ति त्वामृते शत्रुकर्शन । स दंशितो$भिनिर्याय त्वमद्य बलिनां वर

Transliteration

tasya nānyo nihantāsti tvāmṛte śatrukarśana | sa daṃśito 'bhiniryāya tvam adya balināṃ vara ||

Translation

马尔坎德耶说道：“除你之外，别无他人能杀他，噬敌者啊。如今他被毒刺所伤，正怒不可遏地冲出——今日，你这强者之最，须与他正面相对。”

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अन्यः: another (person)
• अन्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• निहन्ता: slayer
• निहन्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु) → निहन्तृ
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अस्ति: is/exists
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: present, third, singular, parasmaipada

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• ऋते: except/without
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते

• शत्रुकर्शन: O crusher of enemies
• शत्रुकर्शन: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु-कर्शन
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• दंशितः: armed/accoutred (having put on armor)
• दंशितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दंशित
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अभिनिर्याय: having come forth/advanced
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-नि-या
• Form: absolutive (त्वा/ल्यप्), active

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य

• बलिनाम्: of the strong (men)
• बलिनाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• वर: O best/excellent one
• वर: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• śatrukarśana (epithet of the addressed hero)
• balināṃ vara (epithet of the addressed hero)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores decisive responsibility: when a crisis reaches its peak, the one uniquely capable must not evade duty. Strength is framed as an ethical obligation—power exists to restrain imminent harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya warns the addressed warrior that the adversary, provoked ‘as if stung,’ is rushing out to attack. He declares that no one else can kill or stop that foe, urging immediate readiness and resolve.