Shloka 11
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
ते वयं बाहुबलिन: क्रोधमुत्थितमात्मन: । सहामहे भवन्न्मूलं वासुदेवेन पालिता:,“हम सब लोग बाहुबलसे सम्पन्न हैं और भगवान् वासुदेव हमारे रक्षक हैं तो भी हम आपके कारण अपने उठे हुए क्रोधको चुपचाप सह लेते हैं
te vayaṃ bāhubalinaḥ krodham utthitam ātmanaḥ | sahāmahe bhavan-mūlaṃ vāsudevena pālitāḥ ||
“Chúng ta đều là những người có cánh tay mạnh mẽ; nhưng dẫu cơn giận bốc lên trong lòng, chúng ta vẫn lặng lẽ chịu đựng—cơn giận bị khơi bởi ngài—vì chúng ta được Vāsudeva che chở và kiềm giữ.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one has the power to retaliate, dharma is upheld through restraint: anger may arise naturally, but it should be borne and governed—especially under the guidance of a righteous protector like Vāsudeva. Strength is shown not only in force, but in self-mastery.
Vaiśampāyana reports a statement by a group speaking collectively: they emphasize their martial strength, acknowledge that anger has been provoked ‘because of you,’ yet declare that they are enduring it because they are under Vāsudeva’s protection and discipline—implying a deliberate choice to avoid immediate violent response.