Shloka 19
Cyavana’s Yogic Display and Kuśika’s Recognition of Tapas (च्यवन-योगप्रभावः कुशिकस्य तपःप्रशंसा च)
हन्याद्धि भगवान् क्रुद्धस्त्रलोक्यमपि केवलम् | किं पुनर्मा तपोहीनं बाहुवीर्यपरायणम्
hanyāddhi bhagavān kruddhas trailokyam api kevalam | kiṁ punar mā tapohīnaṁ bāhuvīryaparāyaṇam ||
Denn wenn der erhabene Herr, im Zorn, selbst die drei Welten auf einmal vernichten könnte, wie viel leichter könnte er dann mich treffen—der ich der Askesekraft entbehre und mich nur auf die Stärke meiner Arme stütze?
नहुष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts divine, dharma-backed power with mere bodily strength: without tapas (spiritual discipline/merit) and humility, reliance on arm-strength is fragile, and one should not presume safety before a higher moral-cosmic authority.
Nahusha speaks in a self-abasing, cautionary tone, acknowledging that if the Lord’s wrath can annihilate even the three worlds, then Nahusha—lacking ascetic power and depending only on physical prowess—would be even more vulnerable.