Shloka 25
धृष्टद्युम्नेन समागतक्षत्रियगणगणना
Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Enumeration of Assembled Kṣatriyas
गन्धर्व उवाच तमापततन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य वसिष्ठो भगवानृषि: । वारयामास तेजस्वी हुंकारेणैव भारत,गन्धर्व कहता है--भारत! उस राक्षसको आते देख तेजस्वी भगवान् वसिष्ठ मुनिने हुंकारमात्रसे ही रोक दिया
gandharva uvāca: tam āpatatantaṁ samprekṣya vasiṣṭho bhagavān ṛṣiḥ | vārayāmāsa tejasvī huṅkāreṇaiva bhārata ||
The Gandharva said: “O Bhārata, seeing that demon rushing in, the radiant, venerable sage Vasiṣṭha checked him—by a mere roar (huṅkāra) alone.” The episode underscores the ethical idea that true spiritual power and self-mastery can restrain violence without weapons, and that aggression is halted by higher tapas and authority grounded in dharma.
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that inner spiritual potency (tejas born of tapas and dharma) can restrain destructive force without physical violence; moral and ascetic authority can neutralize aggression.
A rākṣasa charges forward; Vasiṣṭha sees him and halts him instantly, not with weapons but with a mere huṅkāra—an authoritative, power-laden utterance.