Shloka 14
Arjuna’s Lament, the End of the Yadus, and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure
यद्बान्धव: कुरुबलाब्धिमनन्तपार- मेको रथेन ततरेऽहमतीर्यसत्त्वम् । प्रत्याहृतं बहु धनं च मया परेषां तेजास्पदं मणिमयं च हृतं शिरोभ्य: ॥ १४ ॥
yad-bāndhavaḥ kuru-balābdhim ananta-pāram eko rathena tatare ’ham atīrya-sattvam pratyāhṛtaṁ bahu dhanaṁ ca mayā pareṣāṁ tejās-padaṁ maṇimayaṁ ca hṛtaṁ śirobhyaḥ
यद्बान्धवत्वात् कुरुबलाब्धिमनन्तपारं दुर्जयैः सत्त्वैः पूरितं, एकोऽहं रथेनातीत्य ततरे; तस्य प्रसादात् गवां प्रत्याहारं बहुधनं च परेषां मया नीतं, मणिमयं तेजास्पदं च शिरोभ्यः हृतं।
On the Kaurava side there were many stalwart commanders like Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa and Karṇa, and their military strength was as insurmountable as the great ocean. And yet it was due to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s grace that Arjuna alone, sitting on the chariot, could manage to vanquish them one after another without difficulty. There were many changes of commanders on the other side, but on the Pāṇḍavas’ side Arjuna alone on the chariot driven by Lord Kṛṣṇa could manage the whole responsibility of the great war. Similarly, when the Pāṇḍavas were living at the palace of Virāṭa incognito, the Kauravas picked a quarrel with King Virāṭa and decided to take away his large number of cows. While they were taking away the cows, Arjuna fought with them incognito and was able to regain the cows along with some booty taken by force — the jewels set on the turbans of the royal order. Arjuna remembered that all this was possible by the grace of the Lord.
FAQs
This verse shows Arjuna contrasting his former extraordinary victories—possible due to Krishna’s shelter—with his present inability, illustrating that real power is sustained by the Lord’s grace, not mere personal ability.
After Krishna’s departure from the world, Arjuna returns to Hastinapura shaken and humbled; he confesses to his brothers that without Krishna’s presence he no longer feels the same invincible strength.
Rely less on ego and more on divine shelter—through prayer, remembrance, and disciplined dharma—recognizing that success and capability flourish when aligned with Krishna’s guidance.