Shloka 152
अनुक्रमणिकाध्यायः (Anukramaṇikā Adhyāya) — Invocation, Narrator Frame, and Textual Scope
यदाश्रौषं देवराजं प्रविष्टें शर्रैं्दिव्यैर्वारितं चार्जुनेन अग्निं तथा तर्पितं खाण्डवे च तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय,जब मैंने सुना कि खाण्डवदाहके समय देवराज इन्द्र तो वर्षा करके आग बुझाना चाहते थे और अर्जुनने उसे अपने दिव्य बाणोंसे रोक दिया तथा अग्निदेवको तृप्त किया, संजय! तभी मैंने समझ लिया कि अब मेरी विजय नहीं हो सकती
yadāśrauṣaṃ devarājaṃ praviṣṭaṃ śaraiḥ divyaiḥ vāritaṃ cārjunena | agniṃ tathā tarpitaṃ khāṇḍave ca tadā nāśaṃse vijayāya sañjaya ||
Cuando oí que, durante el incendio del bosque de Khāṇḍava, Indra, rey de los dioses, intervino, pero Arjuna lo contuvo con flechas divinas, y que Agni quedó plenamente satisfecho en Khāṇḍava, entonces, Sañjaya, ya no esperé la victoria. Pues donde tal poder puede frenar incluso la intención de un dios y sostener un voto hasta cumplirlo, allí el destino y el dharma se apartan de mi lado.
Educational Q&A
The verse frames extraordinary capability aligned with a fulfilled vow (Agni being satisfied) as an ethical and fateful indicator: when a cause is supported by steadfast resolve and divine-grade competence, even opposing divine forces are checked, and one should recognize the moral and strategic tide turning against unjust ambition.
The speaker recalls hearing about the Khāṇḍava forest conflagration: Indra tried to stop the fire by sending rain, but Arjuna blocked that effort with celestial arrows, enabling Agni to complete his purpose. From this report, the speaker concludes that victory will not be attainable against such opponents.