Shloka 27
Pradyumna–Śālva Missile-Exchange at Saubha (Āraṇyaka Parva, Adhyāya 18)
उपयान्तं दुराधर्ष शडुखचक्रगदाधरम् । पुरुष पुण्डरीकाक्ष॑ कि वक्ष्यामि महाभुजम्,“शंख, चक्र और गदा धारण करनेवाले कमलनयन महाबाहु एवं अजेय वीर भगवान् पुरुषोत्तम जब यहाँ मेरे निकट पदार्पण करेंगे, उस समय मैं उन्हें क्या उत्तर दूँगा?
upayāntaṃ durādharṣa-śaṅkha-cakra-gadādharam | puruṣaṃ puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ kiṃ vakṣyāmi mahābhujam ||
Vāyu disse: “Quando aquele Senhor invencível—portador de concha, disco e maça, a Pessoa Suprema de olhos de lótus e braços poderosos—se aproximar de mim aqui, que resposta poderei dar-Lhe?”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights humility before divine authority: even a powerful deity like Vāyu expresses awe and moral hesitation about what is fitting to say when the Supreme Lord approaches, underscoring reverence, self-restraint, and awareness of dharma in speech.
Vāyu anticipates the imminent arrival of Puruṣottama (identified by the emblems conch, discus, and mace) and, overwhelmed by the Lord’s invincibility and majesty, wonders what response he can possibly offer when the Lord comes near.