Mahabharata (Gita Press) 7.175.46 - Drona Parva, Adhyaya 175, Shloka 46
स भवान् मज्जमानानां बन्धूनां त्वं प्लवो भव । विविधानि तवास्त्राणि सन्ति माया च राक्षसी
sa bhavān majjamānānāṁ bandhūnāṁ tvaṁ plavo bhava | vividhāni tavāstrāṇi santi māyā ca rākṣasī ||
നിന്റെ ബന്ധുക്കൾ അപകടസമുദ്രത്തിൽ മുങ്ങുകയാണ്—നീ അവർക്കൊരു തോണിയായി മാറി അവരെ മറുകരയെത്തിക്കൂ. നിനക്കു പലവിധ ആയുധങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ട്; രാക്ഷസീ മായാശക്തിയും ഉണ്ട്. ആ ശക്തികളാൽ സ്വന്തം ജനത്തെ രക്ഷിക്കൂ.
श्रीवायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should become a ‘plava’—a saving support—for one’s endangered kin and allies, using one’s strengths responsibly. Power (weapons and even deceptive strategy) is framed here as an instrument for protection and rescue, not mere aggression.
Vāyu addresses a warrior capable of great martial force and magical/illusory tactics, urging him to act decisively because his relatives are metaphorically ‘drowning’ in crisis. The verse motivates immediate intervention and leadership in a perilous wartime situation.
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