Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 18
Indra Slays Namuci—The Limits of Power and the Triumph of Divine Strategy
सेहे रुजं सुदुर्मर्षां सत्त्वमालम्ब्य मातलि: । इन्द्रो जम्भस्य सङ्क्रुद्धो वज्रेणापाहरच्छिर: ॥ १८ ॥
sehe rujaṁ sudurmarṣāṁ sattvam ālambya mātaliḥ indro jambhasya saṅkruddho vajreṇāpāharac chiraḥ
Though the pain was nearly unbearable, Mātali endured it with steadfast courage. Indra, enraged at Jambhāsura, struck him with the vajra and severed his head from his body.
FAQs
This verse shows Mātali tolerating unbearable pain by taking shelter of sattva—inner steadiness and strength—highlighting endurance as a virtue in dharmic struggle.
Indra became enraged at Jambha during the Devas–Asuras conflict and used his Vajra to kill him, demonstrating decisive action against aggressive adharma in the war narrative.
When facing intense stress or pain, cultivate steadiness (sattva) through discipline, prayer, and clarity of duty—then act firmly and responsibly rather than impulsively.