Shloka 26
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 58 — Saṃjaya’s Audience and Kṛṣṇa’s Deterrent Counsel (संजय-प्रवेशः कृष्णवाक्यं च)
देवासुरमनुष्येषु यक्षगन्धर्वभोगिषु । नतं पश्याम्यहं युद्धे पाण्डवं यो5भ्ययाद् रणे,“देवताओं, असुरों, मनुष्यों, यक्षों, गन्धर्वों तथा नागोंमें भी मुझे कोई ऐसा वीर नहीं दिखायी देता, जो पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनका सामना कर सके
devāsura-manuṣyeṣu yakṣa-gandharva-bhogiṣu | nataṁ paśyāmy ahaṁ yuddhe pāṇḍavaṁ yo 'bhyayād raṇe ||
Vāyu said: “Among gods, demons, and human beings—among Yakṣas, Gandharvas, and the serpent-races as well—I do not see anyone in battle who could stand firm against the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), who would dare to advance upon him in the clash of war.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates Arjuna’s martial excellence to a cosmic scale, implying that true kṣatriya strength—when aligned with rightful cause—commands deterrent authority. It frames the approaching war as one where extraordinary capability and moral seriousness converge, warning that confronting such a warrior is no ordinary act.
Vāyu (the wind-god) speaks in admiration, declaring that across all classes of beings he sees no one capable of facing the Pāṇḍava Arjuna in battle. The statement functions as a testimonial to Arjuna’s reputation and as narrative intensification before the great conflict.