Do thou like a leader of elephants rushing at a herd, pierce the ranks of the foe with straight arrows of golden wings, discharged from thy bow. Thy bow is even like a Vina. Its two ends represent the ivory pillows; its string, the main chord; its staff, the finger-board; and the arrows shot from it musical notes. Do thou strike in the midst of the foe that Vina of musical sound.[34] Let thy steeds, O lord, of silvery hue, be yoked unto thy car, and let thy standard be hoisted, bearing the emblem of the golden lion. Let thy keen-edged arrows endued with wings of gold, shot by thy strong arms, obstruct the path of those kings and eclipse the very sun. Vanquishing all the Kurus in battle like unto the wielder of the thunderbolt defeating the Asuras, return thou again to the city having achieved great renown. Son of Matsya’s king, thou art the sole refuge of this kingdom, as that foremost of virtuous warriors, Arjuna is of the sons of Pandu. Even like Arjuna of his brothers, thou art, without doubt, the refuge of those dwelling within these dominions. Indeed, we, the subject of this realm, have our protector in thee.’”Mbh 4.35.1b · Mahabharata · VIRATA PARVA
Mbh 4.35.1b
Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Themes in this passage
ProtectionChildrenLeadershipWarDharmaThe DivineDoubtNature
Protection in other traditions
The same theme, as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Hellenism address it.
That is the safe refuge, that is the best refuge; having gone to that refuge, a man is delivered from all pain.Dhp 14.192 · Dhammapada · The Buddha (The Awakened)
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.Psalms 121:7 · Bible · Psalms
Say: Lo! none can protect me from Allah, nor can I find any refuge beside HimQuran 72:22 · Quran · The Jinn
Now shield with shield, with helmet helmet closed, To armour armour, lance to lance opposed, Host against host with shadowy squadrons drew, The sounding darts in iron tempests flew, Victors and vanquish’d join’d promiscuous cries, And shrilling shouts and dying groans arise; With streaming blood the slippery fields are dyed, And slaughter’d heroes swell the dreadful tide.Iliad 4.38 · Iliad · 4
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