Shloka 423
भयादू रणं परित्यज्य शक्रमेवाभिशिश्रियु: । बहुत-से देवता बार-बार प्रयत्न करनेपर भी कभी सफलमनोरथ न हो सके। उनकी आशा टूट गयी और वे भयके मारे युद्ध छोड़कर इन्द्रकी ही शरणमें चले गये
bhayād raṇaṃ parityajya śakram evābhiśiśriyuḥ |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dikuasai ketakutan, mereka meninggalkan medan perang dan berlindung hanya kepada Śakra (Indra). Walaupun banyak dewa telah berusaha berulang kali, mereka tidak dapat mencapai maksudnya; harapan mereka hancur, dan dalam gentar mereka berundur dari pertempuran lalu mengambil perlindungan pada Indra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fear can cause even powerful beings to abandon their duty; when one’s own effort fails, seeking refuge in a higher protector or rightful leader becomes the chosen course. The verse highlights the ethical tension between perseverance in conflict and retreat for safety under legitimate shelter.
In the midst of a battle, many deities repeatedly try to achieve their objective but fail. Their hopes collapse, and, frightened, they leave the battlefield and take shelter with Śakra (Indra).