Shloka 18
विन्ध्यवृद्धिनिवारणम् — The Restraint of the Vindhya
Agastya’s Injunction
समेत्य समहेन्द्रा श्ष भयान्मन्त्र प्रचक्रिरे शरण्यं शरणं देव॑ नारायणमजं विभुम्
sametya saha-indrāś ca bhayān mantraṁ pracakrire | śaraṇyaṁ śaraṇaṁ devaṁ nārāyaṇam ajaṁ vibhum ||
Da versammelten sich die Götter, und selbst Indra und die übrigen—vom Schrecken erfasst—entwarfen einen heiligen Plan. Sie nahmen Zuflucht zu Nārāyaṇa, dem göttlichen Beschützer, dem Ungeborenen und allgegenwärtigen Herrn, als ihrem letzten Hort.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
When even the gods are overcome by fear, the highest remedy is śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in the supreme protector. The verse emphasizes Nārāyaṇa as the unborn, all-pervading source of security and right order.
Indra and the other gods, troubled by a fearful situation, assemble and formulate a course of action. Their decisive step is to seek protection and guidance from Nārāyaṇa, acknowledging him as the ultimate refuge.