Shloka 18
Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)
साहां तथा महाबाहो दत्तमस्माकमच्युत । सारथ्येन च वार्ष्णेय भवता हि धृता वयम्,'पूर्वकालमें देवासुर-संग्रामके अवसरपर जैसे आपने देवद्रोही दैत्योंक वधके लिये देवताओंकी सहायता की थी, जिससे वे सारे देवशत्रु मारे गये, महाबाहु अच्युत! उसी प्रकार इस युद्धमें आपने हमें सहायता प्रदान की है। वृष्णिनन्दन! आपने सारथिका कार्य करके हमलोगोंको बचा लिया
sāhaṃ tathā mahābāho dattam asmākam acyuta | sārathyena ca vārṣṇeya bhavatā hi dhṛtā vayam || pūrvakāle devāsura-saṅgrāme ’vasare yathā tvayā devadrohi-daittyānāṃ vadha-kṛte devānāṃ sahāyatā kṛtā, yena te sarve devaśatravaḥ hatāḥ | mahābāhu acyuta! tathā ’smin yuddhe tvayā asmākaṃ sahāyatā pradattā | vṛṣṇinandana! tvayā sārathi-kāryaṃ kṛtvā vayam rakṣitāḥ ||
وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا— اے مہاباہو اَچُیُت! اسی طرح تم نے ہمیں بھی مدد عطا کی۔ اے وارْشْنَیَ! سارتھی بن کر تم ہی نے حقیقتاً ہمیں تھاما، سنبھالا اور محفوظ رکھا۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of protective service: Kṛṣṇa’s greatness is shown not only in slaying foes but in sustaining others through humble duty (sārathya). Divine support is portrayed as active guidance and safeguarding, enabling the righteous side to endure in war.
Vaiśampāyana praises Kṛṣṇa, addressing him by epithets (Acyuta, Vārṣṇeya, Vṛṣṇinandana), and compares his help in the Kurukṣetra war—especially by acting as charioteer and protector—to his earlier assistance to the devas in the primordial devas–asuras conflict.