Shloka 14
उत्थानेनामृतं लब्धमुत्थानेनासुरा हता: । उत्थानेन महेन्द्रेण श्रैष्ठ्यं प्राप्त दिवीह च,“देवराज इन्द्रने उद्योगसे ही अमृत प्राप्त किया, उद्योगसे ही असुरोंका संहार किया तथा उद्योगसे ही देवलोक और इहलोकमें श्रेष्ठता प्राप्त की
utthānenāmṛtaṃ labdham utthānenāsurā hatāḥ | utthānena mahendreṇa śraiṣṭhyaṃ prāptaṃ divīha ca ||
Bhishma said: “By energetic effort, immortality (amṛta) was obtained; by that same effort the Asuras were slain; and by effort Mahendra (Indra), the great lord of the gods, attained pre-eminence both in heaven and here in the world. Therefore, one should not abandon enterprise: steadfast exertion is the root of success, protection, and rightful prosperity.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the primacy of utthāna—active initiative and sustained effort. Even divine supremacy and great achievements (like obtaining amṛta and overcoming hostile forces) are presented as outcomes of determined enterprise, encouraging rulers and individuals to avoid lethargy and persist in rightful action.
In the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and practical statecraft. Here he cites Indra’s example: through exertion Indra gained amṛta, defeated the Asuras, and secured superiority in both heaven and the human realm—an illustrative argument for disciplined effort in governance and life.