Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
स हि रूपाणि कुरुते विविधानि भृगूत्तम । भुगुश्रेष्ठ! तुम्हें इन्द्रकी ओरसे सदा सावधान रहना चाहिये; क्योंकि वह अनेक प्रकारके रूप धारण करता है
sa hi rūpāṇi kurute vividhāni bhṛgūttama |
Bhīṣma said: “O best of the Bhṛgus, he indeed assumes many and varied forms. Therefore you should remain constantly vigilant toward Indra, for he is adept at taking on different disguises.”
भीष्म उवाच
The verse teaches sustained vigilance and discernment: powerful agents like Indra may employ disguise and stratagem, so one should not be careless or credulous but remain alert to shifting appearances.
Bhīṣma is instructing a Bhṛgu-descendant sage (addressed as Bhṛgūttama), warning him specifically about Indra’s capacity to assume many forms, implying that Indra may approach indirectly or deceptively.