Shloka 37
नाशकत् तान्यभेद्यानि यदा भेत्तुं पुरंदर:,तप उग्र॑ समास्थाय नियमे परमे स्थिता: । उस समय देवताओंने दैत्योंको परास्त कर दिया था, यह हमारे सुननेमें आया है। राजन! दैत्योंके परास्त हो जानेपर तारकासुरके तीन पुत्र ताराक्ष, कमलाक्ष और विद्युन्माली उग्र तपस्याका आश्रय ले उत्तम नियमोंका पालन करने लगे शत्रुदमननरेश्वर! जब देवराज इन्द्र ब्रह्माजीका वर पाये हुए उन अभेद्य पुरोंका भेदन न कर सके, तब वे भयभीत हो उन पुरोंको छोड़कर उन्हीं देवताओंके साथ ब्रह्माजीके पास उन दैत्योंका अत्याचार बतानेके लिये गये
nāśakat tāny abhedyāni yadā bhettuṃ purandaraḥ | tapa ugraṃ samāsthāya niyame parame sthitāḥ ||
Duryodhana said: “When Purandara (Indra) was unable to break those impregnable strongholds—though protected by Brahmā’s boon—he became afraid, withdrew from them, and, together with the gods, went to Brahmā to report the oppression caused by those Dānavas.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights that power fortified by tapas (austerity) and strict niyama (discipline) can make even the seemingly invincible hesitate; boons and titles do not guarantee success, and prudent recourse to higher counsel (Brahmā) becomes necessary when force fails.
Duryodhana cites an earlier divine-demonic episode: after the Dānavas were defeated, Tārakāsura’s sons performed severe austerities and became protected by impregnable cities; Indra could not pierce them, grew fearful, withdrew, and went with the gods to Brahmā to report their oppression and seek a remedy.