Shloka 34
न शक्तः संयुगे हन्तुं साक्षादपि शतक्रतुः । स्वच्छन्दतस्तव सुतो गत: स्वर्ग शुभानने
na śaktaḥ saṃyuge hantuṃ sākṣād api śatakratuḥ | svacchandatas tava suto gataḥ svarga śubhānane ||
वैशंपायन म्हणाले—“शुभानने! साक्षात् शतक्रतु (इंद्र) सुद्धा संग्रामात तुझ्या पुत्राला मारू शकला नसता. तो स्वेच्छेने देह त्यागून स्वर्गाला गेला आहे.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the extraordinary merit and martial invincibility of the hero, while framing his death as voluntary and dharmic rather than as a defeat. It offers ethical consolation: true greatness is not measured by being slain, but by self-mastery and a righteous end leading to Svarga.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reassures the grieving addressee that her son was not overcome by an enemy; even Indra could not have killed him in battle. He chose to give up his body of his own will and attained heaven.