Shloka 16
सर्वान् महीपान् सहितान् कुरंनश्न तथैव देवासुरसिद्धयक्षान् । अलं विजेतुं समरे सुतस्ते स्वनुछित: सारथिना हि तेन,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! राजा विराटको बहुत दुःखी देखकर धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने उनसे हँसकर कहा--“नरेन्द्र! यदि बृहन्नला सारथि है, तो यह विश्वास कीजिये कि शत्रु आज आपकी वे गौएँ नहीं ले जा सकेंगे। उस हितैषी सारथिके सहयोगसे सब कार्य ठीक-ठीक कर लेनेपर आपका पुत्र युद्धमें समस्त राजाओं तथा संगठित होकर आये हुए कौरवोंकी तो बात ही क्या, देवता, असुर, सिद्ध और यक्षोंपर भी निश्चय ही विजय पा सकता है'
sarvān mahīpān sahitān kuraṁś ca tathāiva devāsura-siddha-yakṣān | alaṁ vijetuṁ samare sutas te svanuccitaḥ sārathinā hi tena | vaiśampāyana uvāca |
Vaiśampāyana said: “O Janamejaya, with that charioteer at his side, your son is fully capable in battle of conquering all the assembled kings—indeed even the Kauravas gathered together—and, beyond them, the gods, asuras, siddhas, and yakṣas as well. Such is the decisive advantage granted by a loyal and skilled charioteer, by whose support every task can be brought to its proper completion.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the decisive power of right support: a capable, loyal charioteer (symbolizing guidance, skill, and counsel) can make even a hesitant or inexperienced warrior ‘fit’ for victory. Ethically, it underscores that success in righteous action often depends not only on personal valor but also on wise assistance and proper execution of duties.
In the Virāṭa episode, reassurance is being given that with the chosen charioteer’s help, the prince can defeat the assembled opponents—named broadly as kings and the Kauravas—using hyperbolic praise that extends even to celestial classes (devas, asuras, siddhas, yakṣas), emphasizing overwhelming confidence in the charioteer’s effectiveness.