Shloka 16
Śakra–Śambara Saṃvāda: Brāhmaṇa-sevā, Anasūyā, and Vāg-bala (शक्रशम्बरसंवादः)
नैते देवैर्न पितृभिर्न गन्धर्वर्न राक्षसै: । नासुरैर्न पिशाचैश्न शक्या जेतुं द्विजातय:,ये द्विज न तो देवताओं, न पितरों, न गन्धर्वों, न राक्षसों, न असुरों और न पिशाचोंद्वारा ही जीते जा सकते हैं
naite devair na pitṛbhir na gandharvair na rākṣasaiḥ | nāsurair na piśācaiś ca śakyā jetuṃ dvijātayaḥ ||
Para dwija ini tak dapat ditaklukkan—bukan oleh para dewa, bukan oleh para leluhur, bukan oleh Gandharva, bukan oleh Rākṣasa, bukan oleh Asura, bahkan bukan pula oleh Piśāca.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts the invincibility—especially in a dharmic and moral sense—of the dvijātis who are established in Vedic conduct, restraint, and righteous living; even powerful supernatural classes are said to be unable to subdue such disciplined righteousness.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction on dharma and proper conduct. Here he emphasizes the exceptional standing of the twice-born within the moral order, describing them as unconquerable by various divine and demonic beings.