Shloka 17
Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)
अहं हि द्वारकायाश्न पितुश्न कुरुनन्दन । तेषु रक्षां समाधाय प्रयातः सौभपातने,कुरुनन्दन! मैं द्वारका तथा पिताजीकी रक्षाका भार उन्हीं लोगोंपर रखकर सौभविमानका नाश करनेके लिये चला था
ahaṃ hi dvārakāyāś ca pituś ca kurunandana | teṣu rakṣāṃ samādhāya prayātaḥ saubhapātane ||
Vāyu said: “O delight of the Kurus, I entrusted the protection of Dvārakā and of my father to those very guardians, and then set out to bring about the destruction of the Saubha aerial city. The point is that even a mighty undertaking should be preceded by responsible delegation of protection and duty, so that one’s larger mission does not become an excuse for neglecting immediate obligations.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Before pursuing a major objective, one should secure and delegate the protection of dependents and essential responsibilities; great missions do not justify neglect of immediate dharma.
Vāyudeva tells Kurunandana that he first arranged for the safeguarding of Dvārakā and his father by entrusting that duty to others, and then departed to bring about the fall of Saubha, an aerial stronghold.