Mahabharata 3.172.17 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 172, Shloka 17
Divyāstrāṇāṃ Pradarśana-nivāraṇa
Display of Divine Weapons and Its Prohibition
सुराणामसुराणां च संग्राम: सुमहानभूत् । अमृतार्थ पुरा पार्थ स च दृष्टो मयानघ
surāṇām asurāṇāṁ ca saṅgrāmaḥ sumahān abhūt | amṛtārthaṁ purā pārtha sa ca dṛṣṭo mayānagha ||
ഹേ പാർഥാ! പുരാതനകാലത്ത് അമൃതത്തിനായി ദേവന്മാരും അസുരന്മാരും തമ്മിൽ അതിമഹത്തായൊരു യുദ്ധം ഉണ്ടായി. ഹേ അനഘാ! ആ യുദ്ധം ഞാൻ സ്വന്തം കണ്ണുകളാൽ കണ്ടതാണ്.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how even exalted beings can be driven into catastrophic conflict by craving for extraordinary gain (amṛta). It implicitly cautions that desire for power or immortality can eclipse restraint and lead to great violence, making ethical self-governance essential.
Arjuna begins recounting an ancient episode: a massive battle between the devas and asuras over amṛta. He frames it as an eyewitness account, lending authority to the forthcoming narration.
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