Shloka 39
Adhyāya 33 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Post-Conflict Remorse and Inquiry on Āśrama Discipline (शोक-विमर्शः, आश्रम-जिज्ञासा)
मरुद्धि: सह जित्वारीन् भगवान् पाकशासन: । एकैकं क्रतुमाहत्य शतकृत्व: शतक्रतु:
marudbhiḥ saha jitvārīn bhagavān pākaśāsanaḥ | ekaikaṃ kratum āhatya śatakṛtvaḥ śatakratuḥ ||
Vyāsa said: Accompanied by the Marut hosts, the blessed Indra—known as Pākaśāsana, the chastiser of the demon Pāka—having conquered his enemies, performed the Aśvamedha sacrifice a hundred times, one after another. By this repeated fulfillment of great rites, he became renowned by the epithet “Śatakratu,” the lord of a hundred sacrifices.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and victory are portrayed as gaining lasting legitimacy when aligned with dharmic, sanctioned action—here symbolized by repeated performance of great sacrifices. Indra’s fame (Śatakratu) is not merely from conquest but from sustained commitment to recognized ritual order.
Vyāsa describes Indra, accompanied by the Maruts, defeating his enemies and then performing the Aśvamedha sacrifice a hundred times in succession, which earns him the celebrated title Śatakratu.