Shloka 52
इष्टवा क्रतुशतेनाथ महता दक्षिणावता । मघवा वागििदां श्रेष्ठ पप्रच्छेदं बृहस्पतिम्,इन्द्रने महान् दक्षिणाओंसे युक्त सौ यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान करनेके पश्चात् वाग्वेत्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ बृहस्पतिजीसे इस प्रकार पूछा
iṣṭvā kratuśatena atha mahatā dakṣiṇāvatā | maghavā vāgidāṁ śreṣṭhaṁ papracchedam bṛhaspatim ||
Bhishma said: After performing a hundred great sacrifices, each accompanied by abundant and fitting gifts (dakṣiṇā), Maghavān (Indra) approached Bṛhaspati—the foremost among the wise in speech—and questioned him about this matter.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual achievement and power are not presented as self-sufficient; even Indra, after immense sacrificial merit, turns to a true teacher for ethical clarity. The verse highlights humility before wisdom and the primacy of right counsel in dharma.
Bhishma introduces a frame-story: Indra has completed a hundred richly endowed sacrifices and then approaches Bṛhaspati, the gods’ preceptor, to ask a specific question—setting up Bṛhaspati’s forthcoming instruction.