Shloka 24
Pradyumna–Śālva Missile-Exchange at Saubha (Āraṇyaka Parva, Adhyāya 18)
भारं हि मयि संन्यस्य यातो मधुनिहा हरि: । यज्ञ भारतसिंहस्य न हि शक्योउ्द्य मर्षितुम्,“मेरे पिता मधुसूदन भगवान् श्रीहरि यहाँकी रक्षाका सारा भार मुझपर रखकर भरतवंशशिरोमणि धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरके यज्ञमें गये हैं। (आज मुझसे जो अपराध हो गया है,) इसे वे कभी क्षमा नहीं कर सकेंगे
bhāraṃ hi mayi saṃnyasya yāto madhunihā hariḥ | yajñaṃ bhāratasiṃhasya na hi śakyo ’dyamarṣitum ||
“Hari, the slayer of Madhu, has entrusted the entire burden of protection here to me and has gone to the sacrifice of Yudhiṣṭhira, the lion among the Bhāratas. Therefore, the offense that has occurred today through me is not something he will be able to forgive.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical accountability: when one accepts a entrusted duty (bhāra), any lapse is not merely a personal failing but a breach of trust. It also underscores the seriousness of protecting others under divine or moral mandate, where negligence is seen as difficult to excuse.
Vāyudeva states that Hari (Kṛṣṇa/Viṣṇu), having delegated the responsibility of protection to him, has gone to Yudhiṣṭhira’s sacrifice. Because an offense has occurred under this delegated guardianship, Vāyudeva fears Hari will not be able to tolerate or forgive it.