Shloka 28
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
देवशर्मोवाच बहुमाय: स विप्रर्षे भगवान् पाकशासन: । तांस्तान् विकुरुते भावान् बहूनथ मुहुर्मुहु:,देवशर्माने कहा--ब्रह्मर्ष! भगवान् पाकशासन इन्द्र बहुत-सी मायाओंके जानकार हैं। वे बारंबार बहुत-से रूप बदलते रहते हैं
devadharma uvāca bahumāyaḥ sa viprarṣe bhagavān pākaśāsanaḥ | tāṁs tān vikurute bhāvān bahūn atha muhur muhuḥ ||
Devadharma sprach: „O Brahmarishi, der erhabene Pākaśāsana (Indra) ist kundig in vielerlei māyā (wundersamen Kräften). Immer wieder nimmt er zahlreiche Zustände und Gestalten an und verwandelt sich unablässig.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights Indra’s mastery of māyā—his capacity to assume many forms and conditions repeatedly—implying that divine beings can operate through shifting appearances; therefore one should not judge reality or dharma solely by outward form.
A speaker identified here as Devadharma addresses a brahmarṣi and describes Indra (Pākaśāsana) as one who repeatedly changes into many manifestations, emphasizing his wondrous, transformative power.