Shloka 4
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 71 — Kṣatra-dharma Counsel, Public Legitimacy, and Mobilization
यथा हि सर्वास्वापत्सु पासि वृष्णीनरिंदम । तथा ते पाण्डवा रक्ष्या: पाह्ुस्मानू महतो भयात्
yathā hi sarvāsv āpatsu pāsi vṛṣṇīn ariṃdama | tathā te pāṇḍavā rakṣyāḥ pāhi asmān ū mahato bhayāt ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai penakluk musuh, sebagaimana engkau melindungi kaum Vṛṣṇi dalam segala macam krisis, demikian pula para Pāṇḍava harus engkau lindungi. Wahai Tuhan, selamatkanlah kami dari ketakutan besar ini.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames protection as a dharmic obligation of a powerful ally: the same steadfast guardianship shown to one’s own people should extend to those who have sought refuge and stand in a just cause, especially in times of grave danger.
In the tense lead-up to war, an appeal is made to a mighty protector—addressed as ‘subduer of foes’—to extend to the Pāṇḍavas the same protective support he gives the Vṛṣṇis, and to rescue them from an imminent, overwhelming threat.