Shloka 164
यदाशओ्रौषं कालकेयास्ततस्ते पौलोमानो वरदानाच्च दृप्ता: | देवैरजेया निर्जिताश्चार्जुनेन तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय,जबसे मैंने सुना कि वरदानके प्रभावसे घमंडके नशेमें चूर कालकेय तथा पौलोम नामके असुरोंको, जिन्हें बड़े-बड़े देवता भी नहीं जीत सकते थे, अर्जुनने बात-की-बातमें पराजित कर दिया, तभीसे संजय! मैंने विजयकी आशा कभी नहीं की
yadāśrauṣaṁ kālakeyās tatas te paulomāno varadānāc ca dṛptāḥ | devair ajeyā nirjitāś cārjunena tadā nāśaṁse vijayāya sañjaya ||
When I heard that the Kālakeya and Pauloma demons—made arrogant by the power of their boon and said to be unconquerable even by the gods—had nevertheless been swiftly defeated by Arjuna, from that moment, Sañjaya, I no longer held any hope of victory. The report is not merely about strength; it signals that pride fortified by divine favors still collapses before disciplined valor and righteous resolve.
Educational Q&A
Power gained through boons can breed arrogance, but pride is not invincibility; disciplined prowess and dharmic resolve can overturn even those deemed unconquerable.
The speaker tells Sañjaya that upon hearing Arjuna had defeated the Kālakeya and Pauloma demons—said to be unbeatable even by the gods—he abandoned hope of victory, taking Arjuna’s proven might as an ominous sign.