Shloka 39
Karṇa’s advance against the Pāṇḍava host; Arjuna’s clash with the Saṃśaptakas (कर्णस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रवेशः—अर्जुनस्य संशप्तकसंप्रहारः)
तैरेव विबुधै: सार्ध पितामहमरिंदम । जगामाथ तदाख्यातु विप्रकारं सुरेतरै:
tair eva vibudhaiḥ sārdhaṃ pitāmaham ariṃdama | jagāmātha tadākhyātuṃ viprakāraṃ suretaraiḥ || tapo ugraṃ samāsthāya niyame parame sthitāḥ |
ドゥルヨーダナは言った。「おお、敵を屈する者よ。まさにその神々を伴い、インドラはピターマハ（梵天ブラフマー）のもとへ赴き、神々の敵が働いた圧政を告げた。ダイティヤが打ち破られたのち、ターラカーサラの三子—ターラークシャ、カマラークシャ、ヴィデュンマーリー—は苛烈なる苦行に身を寄せ、最高の戒律に堅く住した。梵天の恩寵により力を得たインドラでさえ、彼らの不可侵の都城を穿つことができなかったとき、神々は恐れおののき、その砦を退いて梵天に近づき、ダイティヤの暴虐を明らかにしたのだ。」
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how power gained through boons and austerity can be used for oppression, and how even the mighty must seek higher counsel when force fails. Ethically, it contrasts disciplined practice (tapas, niyama) with the misuse of the resulting power, implying that inner discipline is not automatically synonymous with righteousness.
After the Daityas are defeated, Tārakāsura’s three sons perform severe austerities and become protected by near-invincible strongholds. Indra cannot break these forts, so the gods retreat and go with Indra to Brahmā (Pitāmaha) to report the Asuras’ oppression and seek a remedy.