Shloka 17
यद्यपि स्वेन रूपेण चरिष्यथ महीमिमाम् | नवो विज्ञास्यते वक्षित् त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत,“भरतनन्दन! यद्यपि तुम इस पृथ्वीपर इसी रूपसे विचरोगे, तो भी तीनों लोकोंमें कोई भी तुम्हें नहीं पहचान सकेगा
yady api svena rūpeṇa cariṣyatha mahīm imām | na vo vijñāsyate vakṣit triṣu lokeṣu bhārata ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Hỡi hậu duệ Bhārata! Dẫu ngươi đi lại trên cõi đất này bằng chính hình dạng thật của mình, thì cũng không ai có thể nhận ra ngươi—như đã được tuyên cáo—trong khắp ba cõi.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse conveys an assurance of protection through concealment: even without changing outward appearance, circumstances (or a higher ordinance) can prevent recognition. Ethically, it supports the idea that safeguarding a righteous purpose may require secrecy, and that such protection can be sanctioned within dharma when it prevents unjust harm.
Vaiśampāyana reports a statement of assurance addressed to a Bhārata-descendant: the person(s) being addressed can move about on earth in their own form, yet no one across the three worlds will recognize them. The line functions as a narrative guarantee of anonymity and safety for the characters’ intended movement or mission.