Shloka 14
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
सुन्दोपसुन्दावसुरौ क्रिययैव निषूदितौ | क्रियाभ्युपायैरिन्द्रेण त्रिदिवं भुज्यते विभो,प्रभो! वातापि, इल्वल, त्रिशिरा तथा सुन्द-उपसुन्द नामक असुर भी कार्यकौशलसे ही मारे गये हैं। क्रियात्मक उपायोंसे ही इन्द्र स्वर्गका राज्य भोगते हैं
sundopasundāvasurau kriyayaiva niṣūditau | kriyābhyupāyairindreṇa tridivaṁ bhujyate vibho prabho |
Vāyu said: “The asura brothers Sunda and Upasunda were slain solely through strategic action. Indeed, by practical and well-devised means Indra enjoys and maintains sovereignty in heaven. Thus, O mighty lord, it is not mere strength but intelligent, timely action that secures victory and rule.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective outcomes—victory, protection, and stable rule—often depend on kriyā (well-executed action) and upāya (skillful means), not on brute force alone. The verse highlights an ethical-political lesson: intelligent strategy, when aligned with rightful aims, is a legitimate instrument of governance.
Vāyu addresses a powerful lord and cites a precedent: the asura brothers Sunda and Upasunda were eliminated through strategic action, and Indra continues to enjoy sovereignty in heaven through practical measures. The statement functions as counsel, urging reliance on effective, action-oriented stratagems.