Shloka 10
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
गन्धर्वर्भुजगेन्द्रैश्व सिद्धै श्वान्यैर्वुत: प्रभु: । चतुर्दन्तं सुदान्तं च वारणेन्द्रं श्रिया वृतम् । आरुह्ौरावतं शक्रस्त्रैलोक्यमनुसंययौ
gandharva-bhujagendraiś ca siddhaiḥ śvānyair vṛtaḥ prabhuḥ | caturdantaṃ sudāntaṃ ca vāraṇendraṃ śriyā vṛtam | āruhya airāvataṃ śakras trailokyam anusañcayau ||
ভীষ্ম বললেন—গন্ধর্ব, ভুজগেন্দ্র (নাগরাজ), সিদ্ধ এবং অন্যান্য দিব্য সত্তায় পরিবৃত প্রভু শক্র, চার দন্তবিশিষ্ট, সুদমিত ও শ্রীসমৃদ্ধ গজরাজ ঐরাবতে আরোহণ করে ত্রিলোকে বিচরণ করলেন।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents Indra’s majesty and movement through the three worlds as a symbol of rightful sovereignty: power is shown as ordered, attended by worthy beings, and oriented toward sustaining cosmic and moral order (dharma), not mere display.
Bhīṣma describes Indra, surrounded by celestial attendants (Gandharvas, Nāga-lords, Siddhas, and others), mounting his elephant Airāvata—four-tusked, well-trained, and radiant—and setting out to traverse the three worlds.