Shloka 38
मैं देखता हूँ, इस समय तुम देवराजके पदपर प्रतिष्ठित हो। अपने कान्तिमान् और तेजस्वी स्वरूपसे विराज रहे हो और मेरे ऊपर बारंबार गर्जना करते हो ।। एवं नैव न चेत् कालो मामाक्रम्य स्थितो भवेत् | पातयेयमहं त्वाद्य सवज्ञमपि मुष्टिना
evaṃ naiva na cet kālo mām ākramya sthito bhavet | pātayeyam ahaṃ tvādya sarvajñam api muṣṭinā ||
Indeed, if Time (Kāla) were not standing over me, pressing upon me, then today I would strike you down with a single blow of my fist—even though you are all-knowing. As it is, I see you now established in the station of the lord of the gods, shining in a radiant and formidable form, repeatedly roaring over me.
श॒क्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the mightiest are restrained by Kāla (Time/Fate). Personal power and anger cannot override the cosmic order; recognizing the limits imposed by Time is an ethical check on pride and violence.
Śakra (Indra) addresses an opponent who appears established in the rank of the lord of the gods, radiant and roaring. Indra declares that, were it not for Kāla overpowering him, he would strike the other down with a single fist—even though that being is described as all-knowing.