Mahabharata 7.175.46 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 175, Shloka 46
स भवान् मज्जमानानां बन्धूनां त्वं प्लवो भव । विविधानि तवास्त्राणि सन्ति माया च राक्षसी
sa bhavān majjamānānāṁ bandhūnāṁ tvaṁ plavo bhava | vividhāni tavāstrāṇi santi māyā ca rākṣasī ||
உன் உறவினர் அபாயக் கடலில் மூழ்குகின்றனர்—நீ அவர்களுக்கு மிதவை/தோணியாகி அவர்களை அக்கரைக்கு அழைத்துச் செல். உன்னிடம் பலவகை ஆயுதங்கள் உள்ளன; ராட்சச மாயையின் வலிமையும் உண்டு. அந்த வலிமையால் உன் சொந்தவர்களை மீட்டு விடு.
श्रीवायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should become a ‘plava’—a saving support—for one’s endangered kin and allies, using one’s strengths responsibly. Power (weapons and even deceptive strategy) is framed here as an instrument for protection and rescue, not mere aggression.
Vāyu addresses a warrior capable of great martial force and magical/illusory tactics, urging him to act decisively because his relatives are metaphorically ‘drowning’ in crisis. The verse motivates immediate intervention and leadership in a perilous wartime situation.
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