Shloka 15
Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)
तव प्रसादाद् गोविन्द राज्यं निहतकण्टकम् | अप्राप्यं मनसापीदं प्राप्तमस्माभिरच्युत,“गोविन्द! अच्युत! जिसे मनके द्वारा भी प्राप्त करना असम्भव था, वही यह अकण्टक राज्य हमें आपकी कृपासे प्राप्त हो गया
tava prasādād govinda rājyaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam | aprāpyaṃ manasāpīdaṃ prāptam asmābhir acyuta ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “By your grace, O Govinda, we have obtained a kingdom free of thorns—secure and unopposed. O Acyuta, what was unattainable even in thought has now been gained by us.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames political success and secure sovereignty as ultimately dependent on divine grace and moral order: what seems impossible by human planning alone becomes attainable through Govinda’s favor, implying humility, gratitude, and recognition of higher agency behind rightful rule.
In the post-battle context of the Śalya Parva, the speaker acknowledges Kṛṣṇa (Govinda/Acyuta) as the decisive support behind the attainment of an ‘unthorned’ kingdom—i.e., a realm cleared of hostile impediments—emphasizing that this outcome exceeded even what could be imagined.