Shloka 75
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
विष्णोश्ष॒क्रंं च तद् घोरं वज़ञमाखण्डलस्य च । शीर्ण पुराभवत् तात ग्रहस्याड्रेषु केशव
viṣṇoś cakraṃ ca tad ghoraṃ vajram ākhāṇḍalasya ca | śīrṇaṃ purābhavat tāta grahasyāṅgeṣu keśava ||
ヴァースデーヴァは言った。「愛しき者よ、ケーシャヴァよ――かつて、ヴィシュヌの恐るべき円盤も、アーカーンダラ（インドラ）の金剛杵（ヴァジュラ）も、そのグラハの四肢に当たって摩耗し、砕け散った。要はこうだ。いかに至高の神武器であっても、並外れた力に護られた存在には効を失うことがある。ゆえに、ただ力に頼るのではなく、正しき手段と、勝利を司るより高き秩序を求めよ。」
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that sheer power—even divine weaponry—does not guarantee success against a being shielded by exceptional protection; ethical and effective action requires understanding the deeper order (dharma) and choosing the proper means rather than relying only on violence.
Vāsudeva recalls an earlier episode in which Viṣṇu’s discus and Indra’s thunderbolt struck a formidable Graha, yet the weapons themselves became worn and shattered on its limbs—highlighting the Graha’s extraordinary resilience and setting up the need for a different approach.