Shloka 25
Adhyāya 33 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Post-Conflict Remorse and Inquiry on Āśrama Discipline (शोक-विमर्शः, आश्रम-जिज्ञासा)
इदं तु श्रूयते पार्थ युद्धे देवासुरे पुरा । असुरा क्रातरो ज्येष्ठा देवाश्नापि यवीयस:
idaṃ tu śrūyate pārtha yuddhe devāsure purā | asurā krātarā jyeṣṭhā devāś cāpi yavīyasaḥ ||
パールタ（Pārtha）よ、古き伝承にもこう聞こえる。太古、デーヴァとアスラの戦いにおいて、アスラは年長で勢力も先に確立しており、デーヴァは若かった、と。これは道徳の省察を促す言葉である。先輩であること、先に強かったことだけでは正しい勝利は保証されない—帰趨を決するのはダルマと規律、そして神々を支えるより深い秩序なのである。
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse introduces a traditional example to suggest that mere seniority or raw strength (the Asuras being older/stronger) is not the decisive measure of rightful success; the deeper implication is that dharma and the sustaining cosmic order ultimately determine outcomes.
Vyāsa addresses Arjuna (Pārtha) and cites an ancient report about a primordial Deva–Asura conflict, noting that the Asuras were the elder/stronger party while the Devas were younger—setting up a comparison for the ethical argument being developed in the surrounding discourse.