Shloka 53
Adhyāya 31: Rājasūya-samāgama — The Gathering of Kings and the Ordering of Hospitality
न चैनमत्यगाद् वदल्निवेलामिव महोदधि: । तमुपेत्य शनैर्वद्विरुवाच कुरुनन्दनम्,जैसे महासागर अपनी तटभूमिका उल्लंघन नहीं करता, उसी प्रकार अग्निदेव सहदेवको लाँधकर उनकी सेनामें नहीं गये। वे कुरुकूलको आनन्दित करनेवाले नरदेव सहदेवके पास धीरे-धीरे आकर उन्हें सान्त्वना देते हुए यह वचन बोले--“कौरव्य! उठो, उठो, मैंने यह तुम्हारी परीक्षा की है। तुम्हारे और धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिरके सम्पूर्ण अभिप्रायको मैं जानता हूँ
na cainam atyagād vadal-nivelām iva mahodadhiḥ | tam upetya śanair vadīr uvāca kuru-nandanam | “kauravya! uttiṣṭha, uttiṣṭha; mayā eṣā tava parīkṣā kṛtā | tava ca dharmaputrasya yudhiṣṭhirasya ca samagraṃ abhiprāyaṃ ahaṃ jānāmi” ||
และเขามิได้ล่วงเลยเขาไป—ดุจมหาสมุทรไม่ล้ำเส้นชายฝั่งของตน ครั้นแล้วจึงค่อย ๆ เข้าไปใกล้ และกล่าวถ้อยคำแก่สหเทวะ ผู้ยังวงศ์กุรุให้ชื่นบาน
सहदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights maryādā (respect for boundaries) and ethical restraint: even a powerful being is praised for not overstepping rightful limits, and true judgment considers inner intention (abhiprāya), not merely outward action.
Agnideva, after not crossing beyond Sahadeva (likened to the ocean not crossing its shore), approaches him gently, comforts him, and reveals that the encounter was a deliberate test; he affirms that he understands Sahadeva’s and Yudhiṣṭhira’s full intention.