Shloka 31
Karṇa’s advance against the Pāṇḍava host; Arjuna’s clash with the Saṃśaptakas (कर्णस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रवेशः—अर्जुनस्य संशप्तकसंप्रहारः)
तां प्राप्प ते पुनस्तांस्तु लोकान् सर्वान् बबाधिरे
tān prāpya te punaḥ tāṃs tu lokān sarvān babādhire | tapa ugraṃ samāsthāya niyame parame sthitāḥ ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Setelah mencapai kembali alam-alam itu, mereka mulai mengusik seluruh dunia sekali lagi. Menjalani tapa yang dahsyat, mereka teguh dalam disiplin tertinggi. Wahai Raja, setelah memperoleh hidup dan kekuatan kembali, mereka menjadi penghalang bagi semua alam, menambah ketakutan para dewa; dan dalam pertempuran, kebinasaan mereka tak pernah terjadi.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how tapas (austerity) and strict observances can generate formidable power regardless of moral alignment; when such power is pursued without dharmic orientation, it can intensify cosmic disorder and fear, showing that spiritual discipline is ethically neutral unless guided by right purpose.
Duryodhana recounts a tradition: after the gods defeated the Daityas, Tārakāsura’s three sons undertook severe austerities and strict vows, regained strength, and then began to afflict all the worlds again, becoming effectively indestructible in ordinary battle and increasing the gods’ fear.