Shloka 44
Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)
उत्तिष्ठ मा शुच: पुत्र नैव विष्णुस्त्वया जित: । अजेय: पुरुषैरेष तथा देवै: सवासवै:
uttiṣṭha mā śucaḥ putra naiva viṣṇus tvayā jitaḥ | ajeyaḥ puruṣair eṣa tathā devaiḥ savāsavaiḥ ||
Waiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Bangkitlah, anakku; jangan berduka. Viṣṇu tidaklah ditaklukkan olehmu. Pahlawan ini tak terkalahkan—oleh manusia, dan bahkan oleh para dewa, termasuk Indra.”
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not fall into pride or despair based on apparent victory or defeat; some outcomes are shaped by divine order, and true strength includes humility and steadiness of mind.
After Babhruvāhana’s encounter with Arjuna during the Aśvamedha episode, the narrator consoles him: Arjuna was not truly ‘conquered’ by him, for Arjuna is portrayed as divinely protected and essentially unconquerable—even by the gods with Indra.