Shloka 19
Cyavana’s Yogic Display and Kuśika’s Recognition of Tapas (च्यवन-योगप्रभावः कुशिकस्य तपःप्रशंसा च)
हन्याद्धि भगवान् क्रुद्धस्त्रलोक्यमपि केवलम् | किं पुनर्मा तपोहीनं बाहुवीर्यपरायणम्
hanyāddhi bhagavān kruddhas trailokyam api kevalam | kiṁ punar mā tapohīnaṁ bāhuvīryaparāyaṇam ||
Kerana jika Tuhan Yang Maha Mulia, apabila murka, mampu membinasakan tiga alam sekaligus, maka betapa lebih mudah bagi-Nya menumpaskan aku—yang tiada daya tapa dan hanya bersandar pada kekuatan lengan?
नहुष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts divine, dharma-backed power with mere bodily strength: without tapas (spiritual discipline/merit) and humility, reliance on arm-strength is fragile, and one should not presume safety before a higher moral-cosmic authority.
Nahusha speaks in a self-abasing, cautionary tone, acknowledging that if the Lord’s wrath can annihilate even the three worlds, then Nahusha—lacking ascetic power and depending only on physical prowess—would be even more vulnerable.