Shloka 5
Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)
अन्तर्धानो नभस्वत्यां हविर्धानमविन्दत । य इन्द्रमश्वहर्तारं विद्वानपि न जघ्निवान् ॥ ५ ॥
antardhāno nabhasvatyāṁ havirdhānam avindata ya indram aśva-hartāraṁ vidvān api na jaghnivān
Mahārāja Antardhāna had another wife, named Nabhasvatī, and by her he begot a son named Havirdhāna. Though he knew that Indra was stealing his father’s sacrificial horse, out of magnanimity he did not kill him.
It is understood from various scriptures and Purāṇas that the King of heaven, Indra, was very expert in stealing and kidnapping. He could steal anything without being visible to the proprietor, and he could kidnap anyone’s wife without being detected. Once he raped the wife of Gautama Muni by using his disappearing art, and similarly by becoming invisible he stole the horse of Mahārāja Pṛthu. Although in human society such activities are considered abominable, the demigod Indra was not considered to be degraded by them. Although Antardhāna could understand that King Indra was stealing the horse from his father, he did not kill Indra, for he knew that if one who is very powerful sometimes commits an abominable act, it should be disregarded. In Bhagavad-gītā (9.30) it is clearly stated:
FAQs
This verse highlights Antardhāna’s restraint—despite knowing Indra’s offense, he did not retaliate, demonstrating self-control and adherence to dharma over impulsive vengeance.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this genealogy and moral detail to King Parīkṣit.
Even when wronged and certain of the offender, one can choose disciplined restraint and principled action rather than destructive retaliation.