Shloka 58
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
त्रयोदश समा नित्यं नाभजत् पुरुषर्षभ: । यस्य वीर्यवतो वीर्यमुपाश्रित्य महात्मन:
trayodaśa samā nityaṁ nābhajat puruṣarṣabhaḥ | yasya vīryavato vīryam upāśritya mahātmanaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Sa loob ng labintatlong taon, ang dakilang taong iyon—ang toro sa mga tao—ay hindi kailanman naghangad ng sariling pakinabang, kundi laging umasa sa kagitingan ng marangal na bayani na bantog ang lakas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical risk of living for long periods by leaning on another’s might: reliance on borrowed strength can obscure personal responsibility and merit, and it frames power as something that can be sought through refuge rather than through one’s own dharmic effort.
Vaiśampāyana describes a leading warrior (addressed as ‘best of men’) who, for thirteen years, did not act independently but continually depended on the valor of a great-souled, powerful hero—indicating a sustained alliance or sheltering relationship that shaped the course of events in the war narrative.