Shloka 33
देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्
Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology
कृष्णाद् वा देवकीपुत्रात् कृपाद् वापि शरद्वत: । को वा दुर्योधन शक्त: प्रतियोधयितुं रणे
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
kṛṣṇād vā devakīputrāt kṛpād vāpi śaradvatāḥ |
ko vā duryodhanaśaktaḥ pratiyodhayituṃ raṇe ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：“同样地，在战场上，谁能与难敌（杜尔约陀那）相抗——除了提婆姬之子黑天（奎师那），或舍罗陀跋之子克利波？除此之外，又有谁能真正与他对阵？”此颂既是道义上的评断，也是战略上的衡量：承认难敌的武力强盛，却指出唯有卓绝之人——一位以近乎神圣的智慧与护佑而受敬仰（奎师那），一位以严整的武艺与军纪而著称（克利波）——方能在战场上与之相衡。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that raw martial strength (as attributed to Duryodhana) can be matched only by extraordinary excellence—either divinely guided protection and wisdom (Kṛṣṇa) or consummate disciplined skill in arms (Kṛpa). It implicitly contrasts mere power with the higher forms of capability grounded in wisdom, training, and rightful conduct.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating events, emphasizes Duryodhana’s formidable capacity in war and asserts that only two exceptional figures—Kṛṣṇa (Devakī’s son) or Kṛpa (Śaradvat’s son)—could truly confront him in battle.