Shloka 8
चित्रसेनगन्धर्वैः कौरवसंनिपातः
Citrasena and the Kaurava engagement
स्कन्द उवाच किमिन्द्र: सर्वलोकानां करोतीह तपोधना: । कथं देवगणांश्वैव पाति नित्य सुरेश्वर:,स्कन्द बोले--तपोधनो! इन्द्र इस पदपर रहकर सम्पूर्ण लोकोंके लिये क्या करते हैं तथा वे देवेश्वर सदा समस्त देवताओंकी किस प्रकार रक्षा करते हैं?
Skanda uvāca: kim indraḥ sarvalokānāṁ karotīha tapodhanāḥ? kathaṁ devagaṇāṁś caiva pāti nityaṁ sureśvaraḥ?
Skanda sprach: „O du, reich an Askese, was bewirkt Indra, wenn er dieses Amt innehat, zum Wohle aller Welten? Und wie schützt der Herr der Götter fortwährend die Scharen der Devas?“
स्कन्द उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames divine kingship as responsibility: Indra’s status is measured by service to the worlds and by continual protection of the devas, implying that authority is justified through sustaining order and safeguarding dependents.
Skanda addresses an ascetic interlocutor and inquires about Indra’s functions—what he does for all realms and how he perpetually protects the divine hosts—setting up an explanation of Indra’s duties and the maintenance of cosmic governance.