Shloka 30
पाण्डोः तपः-प्रसङ्गः, ऋण-धर्मः, अपत्य-प्राप्ति-चिन्ता
Pāṇḍu’s Asceticism, the Doctrine of Debts, and Deliberations on Progeny
देवासुरमनुष्याणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् । यमेकं जेतुमिच्छेथा: सोडनया न भविष्यति,“वीरवर! तुम देवता, असुर, मनुष्य, गन्धर्व, नाग तथा राक्षसोंमेंसे जिस एकको जीतना चाहोगे, वही इस शक्तिके प्रहारसे नष्ट हो जायगा”
devāsura-manuṣyāṇāṃ gandharvoraga-rakṣasām | yam ekaṃ jetum icchethāḥ so 'nenayā na bhaviṣyati ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O best of heroes! Among gods, asuras, humans, gandharvas, nāgas, and rākṣasas—whichever single one you choose to conquer, that very one will not survive the blow of this power.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the overwhelming, near-absolute efficacy of a granted power/weapon: once directed at a chosen opponent, that target is fated to be destroyed. Ethically, it highlights how extraordinary power collapses ordinary distinctions of strength across species and ranks, implying the grave responsibility attached to its use.
Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses a hero, assuring him that among all classes of beings—divine, demonic, human, and other supernatural races—whichever single opponent he decides to defeat will be annihilated by the strike of this power.