Shloka 25
Pradyumna–Śālva Missile-Exchange at Saubha (Āraṇyaka Parva, Adhyāya 18)
कृतवर्मा मया वीरो निर्यास्यन्नेव वारित: । शाल्व॑ निवारयिष्ये5हं तिष्ठ त्वमिति सूतज,'सूतपुत्र! वीर कृतवर्मा शाल्वका सामना करनेके लिये पुरीसे बाहर आ रहे थे; किंतु मैंने उन्हें रोक दिया और कहा--“आप यहीं रहिये। मैं शाल्वको परास्त करूँगा”
kṛtavarmā mayā vīro niryāsyann eva vāritaḥ | śālvaṁ nivārayiṣye'haṁ tiṣṭha tvam iti sūtaja ||
Vāyu said: “The hero Kṛtavarmā, just as he was about to ride out, was restrained by me. ‘I shall check Śālva myself; you stay here,’ I told him, O son of a charioteer.” The passage highlights a protector’s resolve to assume the burden of combat, preventing a valiant ally from rushing into danger and asserting responsibility for confronting the aggressor.
वायुदेव उवाच