Shloka 13
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Sarvadamana’s Childhood and Śakuntalā’s Claim at Court
नागपृष्े<श्चपृष्ठे च बभूव परिनिष्ठित: । बले विष्णुसमश्वासीत् तेजसा भास्करोपम:,वे अपने दोनों हाथोंद्वारा उपवनों और काननोंसहित मन्दराचलको उठाकर ले जानेकी शक्ति रखते थे। गदायुद्धके प्रक्षेप5, विक्षेप*, परिक्षेपट, और अभिक्षेप*---इन चारों प्रकारोंमें कुशल तथा सम्पूर्ण अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंकी विद्यामें अत्यन्त निपुण थे। घोड़े और हाथीकी पीठपर बैठनेकी कलामें वे अत्यन्त प्रवीण थे। बलमें भगवान् विष्णुके समान और तेजमें भगवान् सूर्यके सदृश थे
nāgapṛṣṭhe ca pṛṣṭhe ca babhūva pariniṣṭhitaḥ | bale viṣṇusamaśvāsīt tejasā bhāskaropamaḥ ||
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Ele estava firmemente estabelecido na perícia—seguro tanto sobre o dorso de uma serpente quanto sobre o de sua montaria. Em força inspirava confiança como Viṣṇu, e em fulgor era comparável ao Sol.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic ideal that true prowess is not mere force but disciplined steadiness (pariniṣṭhitaḥ) joined with tejas—radiant excellence—used in a way that inspires confidence and protection, symbolized through comparisons to Viṣṇu and the Sun.
Vaiśampāyana is describing a hero’s extraordinary competence and presence through hyperbolic praise: he is portrayed as unwaveringly skilled even in extreme situations (on a serpent’s back or any mount), and as possessing divine-like strength and solar brilliance.