Shloka 26
सुवर्णष्ठीविनोपाख्यानम्
The Account of Suvarṇaṣṭhīvin
कुरुश्रेष्ठ उसका वह अत्यन्त अद्भुत वृत्तान्त सारे जगतमें फैल गया। देवराज इन्द्रको भी यह मालूम हो गया कि वह बालक महर्षि पर्वतके वरदानका फल है ।।
tataḥ svābhibhavād bhīto bṛhaspatimate sthitaḥ | kumārasya antarprekṣī babhūva balavṛtrahā ||
O best of the Kurus, that most wondrous account spread through all the world. Indra too learned that the child was the fruit of the boon granted by the great sage Parvata. Then Indra—slayer of Bala and Vṛtra—fearing he might be overpowered, followed Bṛhaspati’s counsel and began to watch for an opening against that prince.
पर्वत उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power driven by fear tends to seek loopholes and ‘opportune moments’ rather than act transparently; the verse cautions that even celebrated heroes can slip into ethically questionable strategy when anxious about losing supremacy.
After learning that the remarkable child is the result of Mahārṣi Parvata’s boon, Indra—alarmed at the possibility of being surpassed—follows Bṛhaspati’s advice and begins watching for a chance to harm the prince.