Shloka 28
सुवर्णष्ठीविनोपाख्यानम्
The Account of Suvarṇaṣṭhīvin
प्रवृद्ध; किल वीर्येण मामेषो&भिभविष्यति । सृंजयस्य सुतो वज्र यथैनं पर्वतो<5ब्रवीत्
pravṛddhaḥ kila vīryeṇa mām eṣo 'bhibhaviṣyati | sṛñjayasya suto vajra yathainaṃ parvato 'bravīt ||
“When he grows up, this son of Sṛñjaya will surely overpower me by his prowess.” Thus spoke Parvata to the divine weapon Vajra, standing before him embodied by Indra’s power, and commanded: “Vajra, assume the form of a tiger and kill this prince. As the mountain has declared, when he comes of age, Sṛñjaya’s son will defeat me by his valor.”
पर्वत उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions against letting fear of future loss justify present wrongdoing. Acting from insecurity—especially through disproportionate violence and misuse of divine or political power—undermines dharma and turns foresight into a motive for adharma.
Parvata anticipates that Sṛñjaya’s son will one day surpass him in strength. To prevent this, he addresses Vajra (Indra’s thunderbolt, personified) and orders it to take the form of a tiger and kill the prince.