Shloka 52
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 96: Sātyaki’s Line-Penetration, Encirclement, and Advance toward Arjuna
देवता बोले--देवप्रवर! सुरश्रेष्ठ! वृत्रासुरने जिन्हें सब प्रकारसे कुचल दिया है, उन देवताओंके लिये आप आश्रयदाता हों। महान् भयसे हमारी रक्षा करें ।। अथ पाश्चे स्थितं विष्णु शक्रादीं श्व सुरोत्तमान् प्राह तथ्यमिदं वाक््यं विषण्णान् सुरसत्तमान्,तब अपने पास खड़े हुए भगवान् विष्णु तथा विषादमें भरे हुए इन्द्र आदि श्रेष्ठ देवताओंसे ब्रह्माजीने यह यथार्थ बात कही--
devatā ūcuḥ—devapravara! suraśreṣṭha! vṛtrāsurena ye sarvathā kucalitāḥ, teṣāṃ devatānāṃ tvam āśrayadātā bhava. mahadbhayāt asmān rakṣa. atha pārśve sthitaṃ viṣṇuṃ śakrādīṃś ca surottamān viṣaṇṇān surasattamān brahmā prāha—tathyam idaṃ vākyam.
The gods said: “O foremost among the divine, O best of the celestials! Be a refuge to those gods whom Vṛtrāsura has crushed in every way. Protect us from this overwhelming fear.” Then Brahmā, seeing Viṣṇu standing nearby and Indra and the other eminent gods sunk in dejection, spoke to those best of the gods a truthful and fitting word.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a crisis that overwhelms even the mighty, the proper response is to seek rightful refuge and guidance from a higher protector and to be steadied by truthful counsel; fear is met not by panic but by turning toward dharmic protection and clear speech.
The gods, oppressed by Vṛtrāsura, appeal for protection. Viṣṇu is present, Indra and the other gods are despondent, and Brahmā prepares to address them with a truthful statement to guide their next course of action.