Shloka 27
Adhyāya 61: Saṃmohana-astra and the Kuru Withdrawal (संमोहनास्त्रं तथा कुरुनिवृत्तिः)
अहं पारे समुद्रस्य हिरण्यपुरवासिनाम् । जित्वा षष्टिं सहस्राणि रथिनामुग्रधन्विनाम्,“पहलेकी बात है, मैंने समुद्रके उस पार हिरण्यपुरमें निवास करनेवाले साठ हजार अत्यन्त भयंकर धनुर्धर महारथियोंको परास्त किया था
ahaṃ pāre samudrasya hiraṇyapuravāsinām | jitvā ṣaṣṭiṃ sahasrāṇi rathinām ugradhanvinām ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Formerly, I crossed beyond the ocean and, having conquered the inhabitants of Hiraṇyapura, I defeated sixty thousand chariot-warriors—archers of terrifying might.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial achievement is invoked as authority in epic discourse, while implicitly reminding that strength and conquest gain meaning only when aligned with dharma and responsible use of power.
The speaker reports a past exploit: crossing beyond the ocean to Hiraṇyapura and defeating its formidable forces—sixty thousand chariot-mounted archers—presented as a recollection of extraordinary victory.