Shloka 18
अग्निस्तुति, इन्द्रदर्शन, नहुष-भयवर्णन
Agni-hymn, discovery of Indra, and the Nahuṣa threat
पाहि सर्वाश्व लोकांश्व महेन्द्र बलमाप्नुहि | एवं संस्तूयमानश्न सो<5वर्धत शनै: शनै:
pāhi sarvāś ca lokāṁś ca mahendra balam āpnuhi | evaṁ saṁstūyamānaś ca so 'vardhata śanaiḥ śanaiḥ ||
قال شاليا: «احمِ العوالم كلَّها يا مَهِندرا، وبلِّغ القوة.» فلمّا مُدِحَ على هذا النحو، أخذ إندرا، سيّدُ الآلهة، يزداد قوّةً شيئًا فشيئًا.
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power is ethically framed as a means to protection: the one who holds authority (here, Indra) is urged to gain strength specifically to safeguard the worlds. The verse also implies that sincere, dharma-aligned praise can reinforce a protector’s resolve and capacity.
Śalya addresses Indra (Mahendra), exhorting him to protect all realms and to obtain strength. As Indra is praised in this way, he is described as gradually increasing—growing in power little by little.