What Can Shenron Not Do? Exploring the Limitations of the Eternal Dragon

In the Dragon Ball universe, Shenron, the Eternal Dragon, is one of the most iconic and powerful beings. By gathering all seven of the Dragon Balls on Earth, the dragon can be summoned to grant any one wish. Shenron’s abilities are vast, allowing characters to wish for extraordinary feats, from resurrecting the dead to changing the course of battles. However, as powerful as Shenron is, there are certain things that the Eternal Dragon cannot do.

Let’s take a deeper dive into what Shenron cannot do, and why even the mightiest of dragons have limitations.

1. Granting Multiple Wishes

Shenron can only grant one wish per summoning. This limitation is one of the most significant aspects of the Dragon Balls’ powers. While this rule can be circumvented in some cases, such as through the use of other Dragon Balls (like the Super Dragon Balls), Shenron himself does not have the power to grant multiple wishes in a single summon.

This limitation is often a critical plot device in Dragon Ball since characters often must choose their wishes carefully, knowing they only have one shot at getting what they want. It also creates a sense of urgency and forces the characters to think strategically about how to use the Dragon Balls.

2. Reviving the Same Person Multiple Times

While Shenron can bring someone back from the dead, there are limitations to how often this can happen. For example, after someone has been revived once, they cannot be wished back again with the Dragon Balls. In Dragon Ball Z, when Goku and others try to revive people who have already been brought back, they are unable to do so.

Additionally, the Dragon Balls can only bring back people who have died naturally. If someone dies due to unnatural causes (such as being erased from existence), the Dragon Balls will not be able to resurrect them.

3. Changing the Past

Shenron cannot alter the past. This is one of the key limitations of the Dragon Balls in the Dragon Ball universe. For instance, Shenron cannot undo a previous event or travel back in time to fix mistakes. While there are other ways to manipulate time in Dragon Ball (like through the use of Time Rings or the Dragon Balls from other universes), Shenron is restricted from tampering with past events.

This limitation plays a significant role in the Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super sagas, where the characters often have to deal with the consequences of their actions or the events that transpired before them. The idea of “what’s done is done” is something Shenron cannot change.

4. Granting Immortality

While Shenron is incredibly powerful, granting true immortality is beyond his scope. He can grant extended lifespans, youth, or regenerate people who are on the verge of death, but he cannot make someone completely immortal in the traditional sense. For example, while he has restored the youth of certain characters like Goku and Dende, he cannot grant them eternal life where they cannot die.

Additionally, in Dragon Ball Z, when Emperor Pilaf wishes for immortality, Shenron denies the wish, stating that he cannot grant such a powerful wish. The idea of immortality, especially in the absolute sense, is too vast for Shenron to fulfill, as even immortality can be fragile depending on how it's acquired.

5. Breaking the Laws of Nature

Shenron’s abilities are also bound by the natural laws of the Dragon Ball universe. This means that while Shenron can do many incredible things, he cannot perform feats that go against the natural order of existence. For example, he cannot bring back people who have been erased from existence by the powers of beings like Zeno, nor can he break the fundamental laws of time, space, or reality.

This is one reason why characters like Zamasu from Dragon Ball Super cannot be revived by the Dragon Balls in his immortal state, as he had transcended natural laws.

6. Making Wishes that Are Too Vague or Self-Destructive

Shenron can refuse wishes if they are too vague, unreasonable, or self-destructive. In some cases, wishes that are poorly worded or have unintended consequences are denied. For instance, if a person wished for "all of the universe’s power," the wish would likely be deemed too broad or self-destructive, as it would be impossible to specify how such a vast request could be granted.

Additionally, wishes that involve contradicting the wishes of other users may be denied by Shenron, especially if they create an impossible situation. For example, asking for a "universe where everyone is happy" could be deemed too abstract or unrealistic for Shenron to grant.

7. Wishing for Universal Destruction

Shenron cannot grant wishes that would cause the destruction of the universe itself or that would lead to irreparable damage to reality. In Dragon Ball Super, this is made clear when characters like Beerus and Whis explain that certain actions, especially those that would affect the stability of the universe, are outside the scope of the Dragon Balls’ power. While Shenron can destroy certain things, he cannot erase entire universes or reset everything in existence.

Conclusion: Shenron’s Limitations Make Him Unique

While Shenron is undoubtedly one of the most powerful beings in the Dragon Ball universe, his abilities are not without boundaries. From his inability to grant multiple wishes to his restrictions on immortality and changes to the past, the Eternal Dragon’s power is not absolute. However, these limitations are what make Shenron such a compelling and important character in the series. His constraints force the characters to think carefully about their wishes, adding depth and excitement to the storylines where the Dragon Balls are involved.

In the end, Shenron’s powers are vast, but they are not without their rules. These boundaries keep the Dragon Ball universe balanced, preventing characters from becoming too powerful and preserving the narrative tension in the series. So, while you may have some big wishes, it’s always good to remember that even the Eternal Dragon has his limits!