Shloka 19
Cyavana’s Yogic Display and Kuśika’s Recognition of Tapas (च्यवन-योगप्रभावः कुशिकस्य तपःप्रशंसा च)
हन्याद्धि भगवान् क्रुद्धस्त्रलोक्यमपि केवलम् | किं पुनर्मा तपोहीनं बाहुवीर्यपरायणम्
hanyāddhi bhagavān kruddhas trailokyam api kevalam | kiṁ punar mā tapohīnaṁ bāhuvīryaparāyaṇam ||
பகவான் கோபித்தால் ஒருவனாகவே மூன்று உலகங்களையும் அழிக்க வல்லவன்; அப்படியிருக்க, தவவலமற்றவனாய் கைபலம் மட்டுமே நம்பிய என்னைப் போன்றவனை அவர் வீழ்த்துவது எவ்வளவு எளிது!
नहुष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts divine, dharma-backed power with mere bodily strength: without tapas (spiritual discipline/merit) and humility, reliance on arm-strength is fragile, and one should not presume safety before a higher moral-cosmic authority.
Nahusha speaks in a self-abasing, cautionary tone, acknowledging that if the Lord’s wrath can annihilate even the three worlds, then Nahusha—lacking ascetic power and depending only on physical prowess—would be even more vulnerable.