Shloka 20
उत्तरो बृहन्नडां सारथ्याय नियुङ्क्ते — Uttara Appoints Bṛhannadā as Charioteer
'जैसे वज्रपाणि इन्द्र समस्त असुरोंको परास्त कर देते हैं, उसी प्रकार आप युद्धमें सम्पूर्ण कौरवोंको जीतकर महान् यश प्राप्त करके पुन: इस नगरमें प्रवेश करें ।। त्वं हि राष्ट्रस्य परमा गतिर्मत्स्यपते: सुत: । यथा हि पाण्डुपुत्राणामर्जुनो जयतां वर:,“मत्स्यराजके सुयोग्य पुत्र होनेके कारण आप ही इस राष्ट्रके महान् आश्रय हैं। जैसे विजयी वीरोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुन पाण्डवोंके उत्तम आश्रय हैं, उसी प्रकार आप भी निश्चय ही इस राज्यके निवासियोंकी परम गति हैं। हम सभी मत्स्यदेशवासी आज आपको पाकर ही गतिमान् (सनाथ) हैं!
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | yathā vajrapāṇir indraḥ samastān asurān parājayati, tathā tvaṃ yuddhe samagrān kauravān jitvā mahad yaśaḥ prāpya punaḥ asmin nagare praviśa || tvaṃ hi rāṣṭrasya paramā gatir matsyapateḥ sutaḥ | yathā hi pāṇḍuputrāṇām arjuno jayatāṃ varaḥ, tathā tvam api niścayena rājyanivāsināṃ paramā gatiḥ | vayaṃ sarve matsyadeśavāsinaḥ adya tvāṃ prāpyaiva sanāthāḥ (gatimantaḥ) ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Just as Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, overcomes all the Asuras, so may you defeat the entire host of the Kauravas in battle, win great fame, and then re-enter this city. For you, O son of the lord of Matsya, are the highest refuge and final resort of this kingdom. As Arjuna—best among victors—is the foremost support of the sons of Pāṇḍu, so you too are surely the supreme reliance of the people of this realm. Today, all we who dwell in the land of Matsya have become secure and supported simply by obtaining you.”
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames righteous leadership as protective refuge: a capable prince/warrior is praised not merely for victory, but for becoming the ‘paramā gatiḥ’—the people’s highest support. Fame (yaśas) is presented as the ethical fruit of defending the realm and restoring safety.
In Virāṭa Parva, the speaker extols the Matsya prince as the kingdom’s main reliance, urging him to defeat the Kauravas and return in triumph. The praise uses two exemplars—Indra defeating Asuras and Arjuna as the Pāṇḍavas’ best victor—to elevate the prince’s role as protector of Matsya.