Shloka 20
इन्द्रस्य पाण्डवैः समागमः
Indra’s Meeting with the Pāṇḍavas
शेरते निहता देव गतसत्त्वा: परासव: । लब्धशेषा वयं मुक्ता मणिमांस्ते सखा हत:,“नरेश्वर! राक्षसों और यक्षोंमें जो प्रमुख वीर थे, वे आज उत्साहशून्य तथा निष्प्राण होकर रणभूमिमें सो रहे हैं। हमलोग उसके कृपा-प्रसादसे छूट गये हैं; परंतु आपके सखा राक्षस मणिमान् मार डाले गये हैं
śerate nihatā deva gata-sattvāḥ parāsavaḥ | labdha-śeṣā vayaṃ muktā maṇimāṃs te sakhā hataḥ ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «Oh rey, aquellos héroes más eminentes entre los Rākṣasas y los Yakṣas yacen ahora abatidos en el campo de batalla, despojados de aliento y de vida. Por su gracia benévola nosotros hemos sido perdonados y quedamos con vida; pero tu compañero, el Rākṣasa Maṇimān, ha sido muerto».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the stark moral reality of war: even the mighty fall, and survival is often attributed to grace rather than personal power. It also highlights the ethical weight of companionship—victory or escape is shadowed by the loss of allies.
Vaiśampāyana reports to the king that the leading Rākṣasa and Yakṣa warriors have been slain and lie lifeless on the battlefield. Although the speakers have survived by another’s favor, the king’s companion, the Rākṣasa Maṇimān, has been killed.