Shloka 152
अनुक्रमणिकाध्यायः (Anukramaṇikā Adhyāya) — Invocation, Narrator Frame, and Textual Scope
यदाश्रौषं देवराजं प्रविष्टें शर्रैं्दिव्यैर्वारितं चार्जुनेन अग्निं तथा तर्पितं खाण्डवे च तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय,जब मैंने सुना कि खाण्डवदाहके समय देवराज इन्द्र तो वर्षा करके आग बुझाना चाहते थे और अर्जुनने उसे अपने दिव्य बाणोंसे रोक दिया तथा अग्निदेवको तृप्त किया, संजय! तभी मैंने समझ लिया कि अब मेरी विजय नहीं हो सकती
yadāśrauṣaṃ devarājaṃ praviṣṭaṃ śaraiḥ divyaiḥ vāritaṃ cārjunena | agniṃ tathā tarpitaṃ khāṇḍave ca tadā nāśaṃse vijayāya sañjaya ||
Quando ouvi que, durante o incêndio da floresta de Khāṇḍava, Indra, rei dos deuses, interveio, mas foi contido por Arjuna com flechas divinas, e que Agni foi plenamente saciado em Khāṇḍava, então, Sañjaya, deixei de esperar a vitória. Pois onde tal poder pode refrear até a intenção de um deus e sustentar um voto até cumpri-lo, ali o destino e o dharma se afastam do meu lado.
Educational Q&A
The verse frames extraordinary capability aligned with a fulfilled vow (Agni being satisfied) as an ethical and fateful indicator: when a cause is supported by steadfast resolve and divine-grade competence, even opposing divine forces are checked, and one should recognize the moral and strategic tide turning against unjust ambition.
The speaker recalls hearing about the Khāṇḍava forest conflagration: Indra tried to stop the fire by sending rain, but Arjuna blocked that effort with celestial arrows, enabling Agni to complete his purpose. From this report, the speaker concludes that victory will not be attainable against such opponents.