Shloka 15
Rukmī’s Offer of Aid and Arjuna’s Refusal (रुक्मिप्रस्तावः—अर्जुनप्रत्याख्यानम्)
प्रयातु नो भवानग्रे देवानामिव पावकि: । वयं त्वामनुयास्थाम: सौरभेया इवर्षभम्,'जैसे कार्तिकेय देवताओंके आगे-आगे चलते हैं, वैसे ही आप हमारे अगुआ हों। जैसे बछड़े साँड़के पीछे चलते हैं, उसी प्रकार हम आपका अनुसरण करेंगे”
prayātu no bhavān agre devānām iva pāvakiḥ | vayaṃ tvām anuyāsthāmaḥ saurabheyā ivarṣabham ||
Que vayas delante de nosotros como el Dios del Fuego (Agni) marcha al frente de los dioses. Nosotros te seguiremos, como los terneros de las vacas Surabhi siguen al toro.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that rightful leadership should be like Agni among the gods—guiding, purifying, and going first—while followers uphold dharma through orderly, trusting cooperation, like calves naturally following the bull.
A group addresses an honored leader, requesting him to go ahead and lead the way; they pledge to follow closely, using two similes—Agni leading the gods and calves following the bull—to emphasize guidance and collective alignment.