Shloka 59
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
तत्पश्चात् देवराज शतक्रतु इन्द्रने देवमण्डलीके बीचमें अपने सर्वश्रेष्ठ गुरु बृहस्पतिजीसे मधुर वाणीमें कहा-- ।।
tatpaścāt devarājaḥ śatakratur indraḥ devamāṇḍalīke madhye svasyāgraṇyaṃ guruṃ bṛhaspatim madhurayā vācā uvāca— dharmaguhāṃ tu bhagavan mānuṣāṇāṃ sukhāvahām | sa-rahasyāś ca ye doṣās tān yathāvad udīraya ||
After this, Indra—the king of the gods, famed for a hundred sacrifices—addressed his foremost teacher Bṛhaspati in the midst of the divine assembly with gentle words: “O Blessed one, explain in due order the hidden depths of dharma that bring happiness to human beings, and also the faults that arise along with its secrets.”
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is subtle and has a ‘hidden’ dimension that can promote human well-being, but it also contains pitfalls when treated as mere secret technique or when its subtleties are misunderstood. Indra asks for a careful, orderly exposition of both the inner principles and the possible defects.
In the divine assembly, Indra (Śakra) respectfully approaches his guru Bṛhaspati and requests guidance: to explain the deep, concealed nature of dharma that benefits humans, and to identify the associated faults and dangers, including those connected with esoteric or confidential aspects.