Shloka 17
Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)
त्वया देवासुरे युद्धे वधार्थममरद्विषाम् यथा साहां पुरा दत्त हताश्न विबुधद्विष:,'पूर्वकालमें देवासुर-संग्रामके अवसरपर जैसे आपने देवद्रोही दैत्योंक वधके लिये देवताओंकी सहायता की थी, जिससे वे सारे देवशत्रु मारे गये, महाबाहु अच्युत! उसी प्रकार इस युद्धमें आपने हमें सहायता प्रदान की है। वृष्णिनन्दन! आपने सारथिका कार्य करके हमलोगोंको बचा लिया
tvayā devāsure yuddhe vadhārtham amaradviṣām yathā sahāyāṁ purā dattā hatāś ca vibudhadvīṣaḥ | pūrvakāle devāsura-saṅgrāme yathā tvayā devadrohi-daityānāṁ vadhāya devānāṁ sahāyatā kṛtā, yena te sarve devaśatravo hatāḥ, mahābāho acyuta! tathāsmīn yuddhe tvayāsmākaṁ sahāyatā pradattā | vṛṣṇinandana! tvayā sārathikā-kāryaṁ kṛtvā vayam rakṣitāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Just as in former times, in the war between gods and demons, you gave aid to the gods for the destruction of those who hated the immortals—so that all those enemies of the gods were slain—so too, mighty-armed Acyuta, in this war you have granted us your help. O descendant of the Vṛṣṇis, by taking up the charioteer’s task you have preserved us.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights divine support aligned with dharma: Kṛṣṇa’s help is portrayed as consistent across ages—he aids the righteous cause, and even humble service (acting as a charioteer) can be a powerful instrument of protection and moral order.
Vaiśampāyana recalls an earlier mythic precedent (the gods aided against demon adversaries) to praise Kṛṣṇa: in the present Kurukṣetra war, Kṛṣṇa has similarly helped the Pāṇḍavas, specifically by serving as a charioteer and thereby safeguarding them.