Shloka 15
Ritual Acclamation at Hastināpura and Karṇa’s Vow Concerning Arjuna (राजकीय स्तुति-प्रसङ्गः कर्णप्रतिज्ञा च)
महता हि प्रयत्नेन संनह् गजवाजिभि: | अस्माभिर्यदनुष्ेयं गन्धर्वैस्तदनुछितम्,“हमें हाथी-घोड़ों आदिके द्वारा बहुत प्रयत्न करके कमर कसकर जो काम करना चाहिये था, उसे गन्धर्वोंने ही पूरा कर दिया
mahātā hi prayatnena sannaddhair gajavājibhiḥ | asmābhir yad anuṣṭheyaṃ gandharvais tad anūcitam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: 'With great effort, fully prepared with elephants and horses, the task that ought to have been carried out by us has instead been accomplished by the Gandharvas.' The line underscores a moral sting: human plans and martial readiness can be rendered futile when a more capable or divinely aided force fulfills what one failed to do.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the limits of mere human preparedness: even after strenuous planning and military readiness, the intended duty may be fulfilled by others. Ethically, it invites humility and reflection on competence, timing, and the role of forces beyond one’s control.
The speaker remarks that although 'we' had readied ourselves with a full force (elephants and horses) to accomplish a certain task, the Gandharvas have already done it—implying that the expected human action has been overtaken or replaced by the Gandharvas’ intervention.