Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)
उत्तिष्ठ मा शुच: पुत्र नैव विष्णुस्त्वया जित: । अजेय: पुरुषैरेष तथा देवै: सवासवै:
uttiṣṭha mā śucaḥ putra naiva viṣṇus tvayā jitaḥ | ajeyaḥ puruṣair eṣa tathā devaiḥ savāsavaiḥ ||
বৈশম্পায়ন বললেন—বৎস, ওঠো; শোক কোরো না। তুমি বিষ্ণুকে জয় করোনি। এই বীর মানুষদের দ্বারা তো নয়ই, ইন্দ্রসহ সকল দেবতার দ্বারাও অজেয়।
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Do not fall into pride or despair based on apparent victory or defeat; some outcomes are shaped by divine order, and true strength includes humility and steadiness of mind.
After Babhruvāhana’s encounter with Arjuna during the Aśvamedha episode, the narrator consoles him: Arjuna was not truly ‘conquered’ by him, for Arjuna is portrayed as divinely protected and essentially unconquerable—even by the gods with Indra.