Shloka 13
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 98 — Paraśurāma’s kṣatriya suppression; Dīrghatamas, Bali, Sudēṣṇā, and the birth of Aṅga
पृथिव्यां पार्थिवा ये च तेषां यूयं परायणम् । गुणा न हि मया शकया वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि,पृथ्वीपर जितने राजा हैं, उन सबके आपलोग उत्तम आश्रय हैं। सौ वर्षोमें भी आपलोगोंके गुणोंका वर्णन मैं नहीं कर सकती
pṛthivyāṃ pārthivā ye ca teṣāṃ yūyaṃ parāyaṇam | guṇā na hi mayā śakyā vaktuṃ varṣaśatair api ||
Pratīpa said: “Among all the kings who dwell upon the earth, you are their highest refuge and final recourse. Indeed, even in a hundred years I would not be able to fully describe your virtues.”
प्रतीप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical ideal of kingship: true greatness is measured by guṇa (virtue) and by being a parāyaṇa—an ultimate refuge for others. It also models humility, acknowledging that genuine excellence can exceed the limits of praise.
Pratīpa addresses a respected group (spoken to in the plural), declaring them the foremost support among all earthly rulers and stating that their virtues are too vast to be fully described even over a hundred years.