Shloka 57
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
तस्य राजंस्तदा देवा: कल्पयाज्चक्रिरे प्रभो । पुण्यगन्धवहं राजन् श्वसन देवसत्तमम्,राजन! प्रभो! उस समय देवताओंने पवित्र सुगन्न्ध वहन करनेवाले देवश्रेष्ठ वायुको उनके लिये हवा करनेके कामपर नियुक्त किया
tasya rājan tadā devāḥ kalpayāj cakrire prabho | puṇyagandha-vahaṁ rājan śvasanaṁ deva-sattamam ||
O König, damals trafen die Götter, o Herr, Vorkehrungen für ihn: Sie bestimmten den Wind—den Besten unter den Göttern, Träger heiligen Duftes—ihm zu dienen, indem er ihn fächelte.
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a common epic motif: extraordinary status, merit, or destiny can attract divine support, and even great powers may be depicted as serving a higher narrative purpose—suggesting that authority and excellence are ideally accompanied by rightful order and fitting service.
Duryodhana describes how the gods made provisions for someone (referred to as ‘him’), specifically appointing the Wind-god, bearer of pure fragrance, to fan and attend upon him—portraying divine attendance as part of the scene’s grandeur.