Shloka 44
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 33 — Kuru Cattle-Raid and Matsya Mobilization (भूमिंजय-प्रेरणा)
अनेन वीर्येण कथं गास्त्व॑ प्रार्थयसे बलात् | कथं चानुचरांस्त्यक्त्वा शत्रुमध्ये विषीदसि,“इसी पराक्रमके भरोसे तुम विराटकी गौओंको बलपूर्वक कैसे ले जाना चाहते थे? अपने सेवकोंको शत्रुओंके बीचमें छोड़कर क्यों भागते और विषाद करते हो?”
anena vīryeṇa kathaṃ gāstvā prārthayase balāt | kathaṃ cānucarāṃstyaktvā śatrumadhye viṣīdasi |
毗湿摩波耶那说道：“凭着你这所谓的勇力，你怎会以为能单凭蛮力夺走维罗吒王的牛群？又怎会把自己的随从丢在敌阵之中，如今却逃遁而去，沉沦于绝望？”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns hollow bravado and highlights kṣatriya ethics: one must not commit injustice (forcibly seizing another king’s cattle) and, having initiated conflict, must not abandon one’s own followers or collapse into despair. True valor includes responsibility, steadiness, and protection of dependents.
In the Virāṭa Parva’s cattle-raid context, a rebuke is voiced (as narrated by Vaiśampāyana) toward those who attempted to carry off King Virāṭa’s cows by force but, when confronted in battle, left their attendants amid enemies and fled, becoming despondent.