Mahabharata 3.21.20 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 20
Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)
शक्य: शूरसुतो हन्तुमपि वज्ञभूता स्वयम् । हतः शूरसुतो व्यक्त व्यक्ते चैते परासव:
śakyaḥ śūrasuto hantum api vajrabhūtā svayam | hataḥ śūrasuto vyaktaṃ vyakte caite parāsavaḥ ||
કોઈ પોતે વજ્રરૂપ બની જાય તોય શૂરપુત્રનો વધ કરવો શક્ય ન હતો; છતાં શૂરપુત્ર હણાયો છે—આ સ્પષ્ટ છે, અને એ પણ સ્પષ્ટ છે કે આ વીરો પણ પ્રાણ ત્યજી ચૂક્યા છે.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts overwhelming grief with steadfast duty: even when convinced that the greatest protectors have fallen, one should not surrender to paralysis but act with resolve in accordance with one’s role (kṣatriya-dharma).
Vāyu voices a bleak inference: if Vasudeva has been killed, then even Balarāma and other leading Yādava heroes must also have died. Despite this repeated, sorrowful reflection, he regains composure and returns to battle against King Śālva.
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