Shloka 18
और्वोपाख्यानम्
Aurva Episode: Restoration of Sight and Restraint of World-Destructive Anger
वयं च शक्तिसम्पन्ना अकाले त्वामधृष्णुम । अशक्ता हि रणे क्रूर युष्मानर्चन्ति मानवा:,अरे, ओ क्रूर! हमलोग तो शक्तिसम्पन्न हैं। असमयमें भी आकर तुम्हें कुचल सकते हैं। जो युद्ध करनेमें असमर्थ हैं, वे दुर्बल मनुष्य ही तुमलोगोंकी पूजा करते हैं
vayaṃ ca śaktisampannā akāle tvām adhṛṣṇum | aśaktā hi raṇe krūra yuṣmān arcanti mānavāḥ ||
อรชุนกล่าวว่า “เราก็มีกำลังกล้าแข็ง แม้ยามไม่สมควรก็ยังยกมาถึงและบดขยี้เจ้าได้ โอ้ผู้ดุร้าย! มีแต่ผู้ไร้เรี่ยวแรงในศึก—มนุษย์ผู้อ่อนแอ—เท่านั้นที่บูชาพวกเจ้า”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts genuine strength with fear-driven devotion: those who cannot resist or fight may resort to worshiping a feared power, while the speaker asserts capability and refuses to submit out of weakness—raising ethical questions about pride, intimidation, and the motives behind acts of reverence.
Arjuna addresses a fierce opponent, boasting that he and his side are strong enough to attack even at an unexpected time and crush him; he derides the opponent’s being worshiped or honored as something done only by people too weak to confront him in battle.