Shloka 14
Plakṣaprasravaṇa–Kārapacana tīrtha-varṇana and Nārada’s war briefing (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 53)
ते स्वर्गभाजो राजेन्द्र भविष्यन्ति महामते । तब इन्द्रने वहाँसे आकर राजर्षि कुरुसे कहा--“नरेश्वर! आप व्यर्थ कष्ट क्यों उठाते हैं? मेरी बात मान लीजिये। महामते! राजेन्द्र! जो मनुष्य और पशु-पक्षी यहाँ निराहार रहकर देह त्याग करेंगे अथवा युद्धमें मारे जायँगे, वे स्वर्गलोकके भागी होंगे” || १२-१३ ह ।।
te svargabhājo rājendra bhaviṣyanti mahāmate | tathāstv iti tato rājā kuruḥ śakram uvāca ha ||
Indra said, “O best of kings, O wise one: they will become sharers in heaven.” Then King Kuru replied to Śakra (Indra), “So be it.” Having thus granted his assent, Kuru took leave; and Indra, the slayer of Bala, departed swiftly, his mind satisfied, to the heavenly world. The passage frames a moral assurance: voluntary austerity and death in righteous battle are presented as paths to heavenly reward, and the king’s acceptance signals consent to that ethical order.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reinforces a karmic-ethical assurance: those who die through severe austerity (such as fasting) or who fall in battle are described as attaining heaven, and the king’s “tathāstu” signifies acceptance of that moral framework.
Indra declares that certain deaths (austerity-based or in war) lead to heaven; King Kuru agrees—addressing Indra as Śakra—and Indra then departs for Svarga, pleased.