Shloka 37
Book 10, Adhyāya 12: Aśvatthāmā’s Request for the Cakra and the Brahmaśiras Context
प्रार्थितं ते मया चक्रं देवदानवपूजितम् । अजेय: स्यामिति विभो सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते
prārthitaṁ te mayā cakraṁ devadānavapūjitam | ajeyaḥ syām iti vibho satyam etad bravīmi te ||
தேவரும் தானவரும் போற்றும் அந்தச் சக்கரத்தை நான் உம்மிடம் வேண்டினேன்—“ஓ ஆண்டவா! நான் அஜேயனாக ஆகவேண்டும்” என்று எண்ணி. இதுவே உண்மை என உமக்கு உரைக்கிறேன்.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds satya (truthfulness) and moral accountability: the speaker openly admits the motive behind seeking a divine weapon—personal invincibility—implying that power sought for self-security or dominance must be examined ethically, especially in a war context.
Vaiśampāyana reports a confession: someone addresses a powerful lord, stating that they had requested a celebrated divine discus—venerated by gods and Dānavas—so that they might become unconquerable, and now declares this motive as the truth.