Shloka 25
Adhyāya 33 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Post-Conflict Remorse and Inquiry on Āśrama Discipline (शोक-विमर्शः, आश्रम-जिज्ञासा)
इदं तु श्रूयते पार्थ युद्धे देवासुरे पुरा । असुरा क्रातरो ज्येष्ठा देवाश्नापि यवीयस:
idaṃ tu śrūyate pārtha yuddhe devāsure purā | asurā krātarā jyeṣṭhā devāś cāpi yavīyasaḥ ||
O Pārtha, auch wird in alter Überlieferung erzählt, dass in einem urzeitlichen Krieg zwischen Devas und Asuras die Asuras die Älteren und Gefestigteren waren, während die Devas jünger waren. Diese Aussage rahmt eine moralische Betrachtung: Vorrang an Alter oder frühere Stärke verbürgen nicht von selbst den gerechten Sieg—das Ergebnis hängt von Dharma, von Zucht und von der tieferen Ordnung ab, die die Götter trägt.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse introduces a traditional example to suggest that mere seniority or raw strength (the Asuras being older/stronger) is not the decisive measure of rightful success; the deeper implication is that dharma and the sustaining cosmic order ultimately determine outcomes.
Vyāsa addresses Arjuna (Pārtha) and cites an ancient report about a primordial Deva–Asura conflict, noting that the Asuras were the elder/stronger party while the Devas were younger—setting up a comparison for the ethical argument being developed in the surrounding discourse.