Shloka 35
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 29 — Arjuna’s defeat of Vṛṣaka–Acalā and the neutralization of Śakuni’s māyā
तथेत्युक्त्वा गता देवी कृतकामा मनस्विनी । स चाप्यासीद् दुराधर्षो नरक: शत्रुतापन:,“तब 'जो आज्ञा” कहकर मनस्विनी पृथ्वीदेवी कृतार्थ होकर चली गयी। वह नरकासुर भी (उस अस्त्रको पाकर) शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाला तथा अत्यन्त दुर्जय हो गया
tathety uktvā gatā devī kṛtakāmā manasvinī | sa cāpy āsīd durādharṣo narakaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ ||
Maka sang dewi menjawab, “Demikianlah,” lalu Bumi yang berhati luhur, setelah maksudnya tercapai, pun pergi. Dan Naraka juga—setelah memperoleh senjata itu—menjadi penyiksa musuh, amat sukar ditundukkan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the granting or acquisition of extraordinary power (here, a weapon) can rapidly make a person formidable; ethically, it points to the responsibility and consequences that accompany such empowerment, since increased might often intensifies conflict and suffering.
Earth, addressed as a goddess, assents (“so be it”), and leaves after accomplishing her purpose. Naraka, having obtained the weapon (as implied by the surrounding context), becomes extremely difficult to defeat and a fierce afflicter of his enemies.