Shloka 22
Adhyāya 129 — Public Acclaim of the Pāṇḍavas and Duryodhana’s Appeal to Dhṛtarāṣṭra
यत् ते पीतो महाबाहो रसो<यं वीर्यसम्भूतः । तस्मान्नागायुतबलो रणे<धृष्यो भविष्यसि,“महाबाहो! तुमने जो यह शक्तिपूर्ण रस पीया है, इसके कारण तुम्हारा बल दस हजार हाथियोंके समान होगा और तुम युद्धमें अजेय हो जाओगे
yat te pīto mahābāho raso ’yaṃ vīryasambhūtaḥ | tasmān nāgāyutabalo raṇe ’dhṛṣyo bhaviṣyasi ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O mighty-armed one, the potent essence you have drunk—born of strength and vigor—will make you as powerful as ten thousand elephants. Therefore, in battle you will become unassailable, beyond the reach of your foes.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic motif that extraordinary power can arise from a potent, consecrated substance; such strength carries an implicit ethical demand that it be used with restraint and in accordance with kṣatriya duty, not mere aggression.
Vaiśampāyana explains to the listener that the hero addressed as “mahābāhu” has drunk a powerful essence, and as a result will gain immense strength—likened to ten thousand elephants—becoming effectively invincible in battle.