Shloka 48
इन्द्र बोले--भगवन्! मैंने लोभवश कमलोंको नहीं लिया था। आपलोगोंके मुखसे धर्मकी बातें सुनना चाहता था, इसीलिये इन कमलोंका अपहरण कर लिया था। अतः ६ (7. / एज धर्मश्रुतिसमुत्कर्षो धर्मसेतुरनामय: । आर्षो वै शाश्वतो नित्यमव्ययो<यं मया श्रुतः,आज मैंने आपलोगोंके मुखसे उस आर्ष सनातन धर्मका श्रवण किया है जो नित्य अविकारी, अनामय और संसार-सागरसे पार उतारनेके लिये पुलके समान है। इससे धार्मिक श्रुतियोंका उत्कर्ष सिद्ध होता है
indra uvāca—bhagavan! mayā lobhavaśaḥ kamalāni na gṛhītāni. yuṣmākaṁ mukhāt dharmakathāḥ śrotum icchann eva etāni kamalāni apahṛtavān. ataḥ adya mayā yuṣmākaṁ mukhāt sa āṛṣaḥ sanātano dharmaḥ śrutaḥ yaḥ nityaḥ avikārī anāmayaḥ ca saṁsārasāgarāt pāraṁ netuṁ setuvat. anena dharmaśrutīnāṁ utkarṣaḥ siddhaḥ.
Indra said: “Revered sir, I did not take the lotuses out of greed. I seized these lotuses only because I wished to hear teachings on dharma from your own lips. And today I have indeed heard from you that ancient, rishi-proclaimed, eternal dharma—everlasting, unchanging, free from affliction—like a bridge that carries one across the ocean of worldly existence. Thus the excellence and supremacy of the sacred teachings on dharma are confirmed.”
अगस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that true dharma, taught by the sages, is timeless and transformative—like a bridge across saṁsāra—and that hearing dharma directly from the wise is itself a supreme good. It also highlights ethical scrutiny of intention: Indra claims his act was not greed-driven but aimed at gaining dharma-instruction.
Indra addresses the sage (Agastya), explaining why he took the lotuses. He confesses the act, denies greed as the motive, and states that the seizure was a means to prompt a dharma-discourse. He then affirms that he has now heard the ancient, rishi-taught dharma and praises its power to carry one beyond worldly existence.