Shloka 18
अग्निस्तुति, इन्द्रदर्शन, नहुष-भयवर्णन
Agni-hymn, discovery of Indra, and the Nahuṣa threat
पाहि सर्वाश्व लोकांश्व महेन्द्र बलमाप्नुहि | एवं संस्तूयमानश्न सो<5वर्धत शनै: शनै:,“महेन्द्र! आप शक्ति प्राप्त कीजिये और सम्पूर्ण लोकोंकी रक्षा कीजिये।” इस प्रकार स्तुति की जानेपर देवराज इन्द्र धीरे-धीरे बढ़ने लगे
pāhi sarvāś ca lokāṁś ca mahendra balam āpnuhi | evaṁ saṁstūyamānaś ca so 'vardhata śanaiḥ śanaiḥ ||
Śalya said: “Protect all the worlds, O Mahendra; attain strength.” Thus praised in this manner, Indra, the lord of the gods, gradually grew in power.
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power is ethically framed as a means to protection: the one who holds authority (here, Indra) is urged to gain strength specifically to safeguard the worlds. The verse also implies that sincere, dharma-aligned praise can reinforce a protector’s resolve and capacity.
Śalya addresses Indra (Mahendra), exhorting him to protect all realms and to obtain strength. As Indra is praised in this way, he is described as gradually increasing—growing in power little by little.