Shloka 28
Indrajit’s Binding, Restoration by Viśalyā, and Counsel Restraining Rāvaṇa (Āraṇyaka Parva 273)
इति राजाब्रवीद् देवं नेति देवस्तमब्रवीत् । अजय्यांक्षाप्यवध्यांश्व वारयिष्यसि तान् युधि,जनमेजय! भगवानने उसे वर दिया और जयद्रथने उसको ग्रहण किया। वह वर क्या था? यह बताता हूँ, सुनो--“मैं रथसहित पाँचों पाण्डवोंको युद्धमें जीत लूँ”. यही वर सिन्धुराजने महादेवजीसे माँगा। परंतु महादेवजीने उससे कहा--'ऐसा नहीं हो सकता। पाण्डव अजेय और अवध्य हैं। तुम केवल एक दिन युद्धमें महाबाहु अर्जुनको छोड़कर अन्य चार पाण्डवोंको आगे बढ़नेसे रोक सकते हो। देवेश्वर नर, जो बदरिकाश्रममें भगवान् नारायणके साथ रहकर तपस्या करते हैं, वे ही अर्जुन हैं
iti rājābravīd devaṃ neti devas tam abravīt | ajayyāṃś cāpy avadhyāṃś ca vārayiṣyasi tān yudhi, janamejaya |
Bhima said: “Thus the king spoke to the god, but the god replied, ‘No.’ For those (Pāṇḍavas) are unconquerable and cannot be slain. Yet you will be able to check them in battle—O Janamejaya.” In context, Bhima explains that Jayadratha sought a boon to defeat the five Pāṇḍavas, but Śiva denied what violates their destined invincibility; instead, a limited power is granted—restraint rather than destruction—underscoring that divine gifts operate within the bounds of dharma and fate.
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even divine favors are bounded by dharma and destiny: what is unjust or impossible (slaying the inviolable, conquering the unconquerable) is refused, while a limited, morally and cosmically permissible power (to restrain) may be granted.
Bhima recounts a boon-request scene: a king asks a god for victory over the Pāṇḍavas; the god refuses total conquest because they are ajayya and avadhya, but allows a restricted capability—holding them back in battle—addressed within the frame to King Janamejaya.