Shloka 23
Vāraṇāvata-prasaṃsā and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure (वरणावत-प्रशंसा तथा पाण्डव-प्रयाणम्)
अहो वो धिग् बल क्षात्रं धिगेतां व: कृतास्त्राताम् । भरतस्यान्वये जाता ये वीटां नाधिगच्छत
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | aho vo dhig bala kṣātraṃ dhig etāṃ vaḥ kṛtāstratām | bharatasyānvaye jātā ye vīṭāṃ nādhigacchata ||
“ಅಹೋ! ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕ್ಷಾತ್ರಬಲಕ್ಕೆ ಧಿಕ್ಕಾರ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಅಸ್ತ್ರವಿದ್ಯಾ-ನಿಪುಣತೆಗೆ ಸಹ ಧಿಕ್ಕಾರ; ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಭರತವಂಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿ ಕೂಡ ಬಾವಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದ ಒಂದು ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಗುಂಡನ್ನೂ ನೀವು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾರಿರಿ.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Lineage and claims of martial excellence carry ethical responsibility: true Kṣatriya worth is shown in effective action and presence of mind, not in pride or mere reputation for weapon-skill.
The speaker delivers a sharp reprimand to warriors who boast of Kṣatriya strength and training in arms, yet fail at a simple practical task—retrieving a small object fallen into a well—exposing the gap between their self-image and their actual capability.