Shloka 14
Saṃvaraṇa’s Petition and Tapatī’s Conditioned Consent (सम्वरण-तपती संवादः)
न चासौ राक्षस: शक्तो मम पुत्रविनाशने । वीर्यवान् मन्त्रसिद्धश्न तेजस्वी च सुतो मम,कुन्ती बोली--ब्रह्मन! मेरा भी यह स्थिर विचार है कि ब्राह्मणोंकी रक्षा करनी चाहिये। यों तो मुझे भी अपना कोई पुत्र अप्रिय नहीं है, चाहे मेरे सौ पुत्र ही क्यों न हों। किंतु वह राक्षस मेरे पुत्रका विनाश करनेमें समर्थ नहीं है; क्योंकि मेरा पुत्र पराक्रमी, मन्त्रसिद्ध और तेजस्वी है
na cāsau rākṣasaḥ śakto mama putra-vināśane | vīryavān mantrasiddhaś ca tejasvī ca suto mama ||
The brāhmaṇa said: “That rākṣasa is not capable of destroying my son. My son is a man of valor, accomplished through mantras, and radiant in power.” In context, the statement affirms that protecting the vulnerable—especially brāhmaṇas—is dharma; righteous guardianship need not collapse into fear, for spiritual discipline and heroic strength together can withstand violent threat.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is upheld through fearless protection of the vulnerable; confidence is grounded not in arrogance but in cultivated strength—both martial valor (vīrya) and spiritual attainment (mantra-siddhi, tejas).
A brāhmaṇa responds to the threat of a rākṣasa by asserting that the demon cannot destroy his son, because the son is powerful, mantra-accomplished, and radiant with tejas—framing the coming confrontation as one where disciplined power can check predatory violence.