Shloka 75
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
विष्णोश्ष॒क्रंं च तद् घोरं वज़ञमाखण्डलस्य च । शीर्ण पुराभवत् तात ग्रहस्याड्रेषु केशव
viṣṇoś cakraṃ ca tad ghoraṃ vajram ākhāṇḍalasya ca | śīrṇaṃ purābhavat tāta grahasyāṅgeṣu keśava ||
Vāsudeva disse: “Ó querido, ó Keśava—tanto o terrível disco de Viṣṇu quanto o raio (vajra) de Ākhāṇḍala (Indra) outrora se gastaram e se estilhaçaram contra os membros daquele Graha. Eis o sentido: até as mais poderosas armas divinas podem tornar-se ineficazes quando um ser é protegido por um poder extraordinário; por isso não se deve confiar apenas na força, mas buscar o meio justo e a ordem superior que governa a vitória.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that sheer power—even divine weaponry—does not guarantee success against a being shielded by exceptional protection; ethical and effective action requires understanding the deeper order (dharma) and choosing the proper means rather than relying only on violence.
Vāsudeva recalls an earlier episode in which Viṣṇu’s discus and Indra’s thunderbolt struck a formidable Graha, yet the weapons themselves became worn and shattered on its limbs—highlighting the Graha’s extraordinary resilience and setting up the need for a different approach.