Shloka 49
Vṛtra’s Cosmic Threat, Viṣṇu’s Upāya, and the Conditional Vulnerability
Udyoga-parva 10
अराजकं जगत् सर्वमभिभूतमुपद्रव: । ततो भीता5भवन् देवा: को नो राजा भवेदिति
arājakaṁ jagat sarvam abhibhūtam upadravaiḥ | tato bhītā abhavan devāḥ ko no rājā bhaved iti ||
সমগ্র জগৎ রাজাহীন হয়ে বিপদ-উপদ্রবে আচ্ছন্ন হল। তখন দেবতারা ভীত হয়ে ভাবতে লাগলেন— “এখন আমাদের রাজা কে হবে?”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a dharmic political ethic: when legitimate rulership is absent, society is quickly overwhelmed by upadravas (disturbances). Order, protection, and justice depend on responsible kingship; leaderlessness breeds fear even among those who are otherwise powerful.
Śalya describes a time of leaderlessness: the world suffers widespread turmoil, and the gods—feeling the vacuum created by the absence of their king (Indra)—become anxious and ask who will rule them.