Shloka 10
Karṇa’s advance against the Pāṇḍava host; Arjuna’s clash with the Saṃśaptakas (कर्णस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रवेशः—अर्जुनस्य संशप्तकसंप्रहारः)
अन््यं वरं वृणीध्वं वै यादृशं सम्प्ररोचते । तब लोकनाथ भगवान् ब्रह्माने उनसे कहा--“असुरो! सबके लिये अमरत्व सम्भव नहीं है। तुम इस तपस्यासे निवृत्त हो जाओ और दूसरा कोई वर जैसा तुम्हें रुचे माँग लो” ।।
tatas te sahitā rājan sampradhāryāsakṛt pratham | nibodha manasā cātra na te kāryā vicāraṇā || tapam ugraṃ samāsthāya niyame parame sthitāḥ |
Lalu Pitāmaha Brahmā berkata kepada mereka: “Pilihlah karunia lain yang kalian kehendaki. Keabadian bagi semua tidak mungkin. Hentikan tapa ini, dan mintalah anugerah lain yang berkenan di hati kalian.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the persuasive use of ancient exempla: intense tapas and strict niyama can generate formidable power, yet the ethical subtext (echoed in the surrounding story of boons) is that power gained through austerity is not automatically aligned with dharma, and even divine grants have principled limits.
Duryodhana urges Śalya to listen without doubt as he begins recounting an earlier mythic episode: after the Daityas were defeated by the gods, Tārakāsura’s three sons undertook severe austerities and strict observances—setting up the background for the later consequences of their acquired power.