Mahabharata 4.20.7 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 20, Shloka 7

Bhīma–Draupadī Saṃvāda on Restraint, Protection, and the Kīcaka Threat

Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 20

Devanagari script

न देवस्यातिभारो<स्ति न चैवास्यातिवर्तनम्‌ | इति चाप्यागमं भूयो दैवस्य प्रतिपालये

Transliteration

na devasyātibhāro 'sti na caivāsyātivartanam | iti cāpyāgamaṃ bhūyo daivasya pratipālaye ||

Translation

毗舍波耶那说道：“对于命运（天命、神圣的法令）而言，没有任何重担算得上过重，也无人能够违越它。因此，我再度忆起传统所传受的教诲，依止并敬奉那由宿命所裁定之事的至上权威。”

Word by Word

• {'na': 'not', 'devasya': 'of the god

• of the divine (here: of daiva, destiny/divine ordinance)', 'atibhāraḥ': 'excessive burden

• an unbearable load', 'asti': 'is

• exists', 'ca': 'and', 'eva': 'indeed

• just', 'asya': 'of it/this (referring to daiva/divine ordinance)', 'ativartanam': 'overstepping

• going beyond', 'iti': 'thus', 'api': 'also

• even', 'āgamam': 'authoritative tradition

• received teaching', 'bhūyaḥ': 'again

• once more', 'daivasya': 'of fate/destiny

• of the divine ordinance', 'pratipālaye': 'I follow

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Daiva (destiny/divine ordinance)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That the divine ordinance (daiva) is irresistible: nothing is too difficult for it, and it cannot be overstepped; therefore one should respect and align oneself with the authoritative tradition that affirms its supremacy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, articulates a reflection on the power of fate/divine dispensation, framing events as governed by daiva and indicating adherence to traditional/scriptural teaching about its primacy.