Shloka 34
यो<5पाश्रय: पाण्डवानां देवानामिव वासव: । स ते भ्राता सखा चैव कथमद्य धनंजय:
yo 'pāśrayaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ devānām iva vāsavaḥ | sa te bhrātā sakhā caiva katham adya dhanaṃjayaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dijo: «Aquel que es refugio de los Pāṇḍavas, como Vāsava (Indra) lo es de los dioses—ese, tu hermano y también tu amigo, Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna): ¿cómo está hoy?»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic ideal of a protector-leader: just as Indra functions as the gods’ support, Arjuna is portrayed as the Pāṇḍavas’ mainstay. Ethical emphasis falls on responsibility, loyalty, and the burden borne by the one on whom others depend.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war setting, Vaiśaṃpāyana reports a query about Arjuna’s present condition. The speaker underscores Arjuna’s central role for the Pāṇḍavas by comparing him to Indra, thereby intensifying concern and anticipation before the coming conflict.