Shloka 18
Dambhodbhava, Nara-Nārāyaṇa, and the Counsel to Abandon Hubris
Udyoga-parva 94
नहिवत्वां पाण्डवैर्जेतुं रक्ष्यमाणं महात्मभि: । इन्द्रोडपि देवैः सहित: प्रसहेत कुतो नृप:,महात्मा पाण्डवोंसे सुरक्षित होनेपर आपको देवताओंसहित इन्द्र भी नहीं जीत सकते, फिर दूसरे किसी राजाकी तो बात ही क्या है?
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: na hi tvāṃ Pāṇḍavair jetuṃ rakṣyamāṇaṃ mahātmabhiḥ | Indro 'pi devaiḥ sahitaḥ prasahēt kuto nṛpaḥ ||
Bila engkau dilindungi oleh para Pāṇḍava yang berhati luhur, bahkan Indra beserta para dewa pun takkan sanggup menaklukkanmu—apalagi raja manusia mana pun.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that steadfast protection by noble and powerful allies makes conquest impossible; it highlights the ethical and strategic value of righteous association and the deterrent force of united strength.
Vaiśampāyana emphasizes to the addressed person that, being guarded by the great-souled Pāṇḍavas, they are beyond the reach of defeat—so formidable that even Indra with the gods could not subdue them, much less any human king.