Shloka 18
Dambhodbhava, Nara-Nārāyaṇa, and the Counsel to Abandon Hubris
Udyoga-parva 94
नहिवत्वां पाण्डवैर्जेतुं रक्ष्यमाणं महात्मभि: । इन्द्रोडपि देवैः सहित: प्रसहेत कुतो नृप:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: na hi tvāṃ Pāṇḍavair jetuṃ rakṣyamāṇaṃ mahātmabhiḥ | Indro 'pi devaiḥ sahitaḥ prasahēt kuto nṛpaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Wenn dich die großherzigen Pāṇḍavas beschützen, dann kann dich wahrlich niemand besiegen. Selbst Indra, auch wenn er von den Göttern begleitet wäre, vermöchte dich nicht zu überwältigen — wie viel weniger irgendein sterblicher König!“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that steadfast protection by noble and powerful allies makes conquest impossible; it highlights the ethical and strategic value of righteous association and the deterrent force of united strength.
Vaiśampāyana emphasizes to the addressed person that, being guarded by the great-souled Pāṇḍavas, they are beyond the reach of defeat—so formidable that even Indra with the gods could not subdue them, much less any human king.