Shloka 21
Adhyāya 71: Kaca and the Saṃjīvanī-vidyā
Devayānī–Śukra Episode
तपसा दीप्तवीर्यो<यं स्थानान्मां च्यावयेदिति । भीतः पुरंदरस्तस्मान्मेनकामिदमब्रवीत्,इन्द्रको यह भय हो गया कि तपस्यासे अधिक शक्तिशाली होकर ये विश्वामित्र मुझे अपने स्थानसे भ्रष्ट कर देंगे, अतः उन्होंने मेनकासे इस प्रकार कहा--
tapasā dīptavīryo 'yaṃ sthānān māṃ cyāvayed iti | bhītaḥ purandarastasmān menakām idam abravīt ||
Kaṇva sprach: „Durch Askese ist seine Kraft entflammt; er könnte mich von meinem Platz verdrängen.“ Aus Furcht davor erschrak Purandara (Indra) und sprach daher zu Menakā diese Worte.
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Austerity (tapas) can generate immense moral and spiritual power, but those invested in status may react with fear and attempt to obstruct it. The verse cautions that worldly authority, when insecure, may choose manipulation over righteousness.
Kaṇva narrates that Indra, worried Viśvāmitra’s tapas will become so powerful that it could unseat him from his divine position, becomes afraid and therefore addresses Menakā—setting up the episode where she is asked to distract the ascetic.