Shloka 12
Suvarṇa-dāna: Kārttikeya’s Origin and the Defeat of Tāraka (सुवर्णदान-प्रसङ्गे कार्त्तिकेय-उत्पत्ति तथा तारकवधः)
दिव्यवादित्रसंघुष्टे दिव्यस्त्रीचारणावृते । इन्द्र: पप्रच्छ देवेशमभिवाद्य प्रणम्य च
divyavāditrasaṅghuṣṭe divyastrīcāraṇāvṛte | indraḥ papraccha deveśam abhivādya praṇamya ca ||
Bhishma sprach: „In jener himmlischen Versammlung—erfüllt vom Klang göttlicher Instrumente und umgeben von himmlischen Frauen und den Cāraṇas—trat Indra vor den Herrn der Götter. Nachdem er ehrerbietig gegrüßt und sich verneigt hatte, stellte Indra ihm seine Frage.“ Die Szene macht deutlich, dass selbst der höchste Herrscher unter den Göttern Führung durch Demut, rechte Haltung und Ehrfurcht vor geistlicher Autorität sucht.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic etiquette: even a powerful ruler (Indra) approaches a higher spiritual authority with humility—first saluting and bowing—before asking questions. Proper reverence and disciplined conduct are presented as prerequisites for receiving guidance.
A grand celestial gathering is described, filled with divine music and surrounded by heavenly beings. In that setting, Indra respectfully greets and bows to the Lord of the gods (contextually Brahmā) and then begins his inquiry.