Shloka 12
Indra-vijaya Upākhyāna and Śalya’s Assurance to Yudhiṣṭhira (इन्द्रविजयोपाख्यानम् — शल्ययुधिष्ठिरसंवादः)
एवं त्वमपि राजेन्द्र राज्यं प्राप्स्पसि भारत । वृत्र हत्वा यथा प्राप्त: शक्र: कौरवनन्दन,भरतवंशी कुरुकुलनन्दन महाराज! जैसे इन्द्रने वृत्रासुरको मारकर अपना राज्य प्राप्त किया था, इसी प्रकार तुम भी अपना राज्य प्राप्त करोगे
evaṁ tvam api rājendra rājyaṁ prāpsyasi bhārata | vṛtraṁ hatvā yathā prāptaḥ śakraḥ kauravanandana ||
Śalya said: “O best of kings, O Bhārata, you too will attain the kingdom. Just as Śakra (Indra) won back his sovereignty after slaying Vṛtra, so will you, O delight of the Kurus.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches confidence in rightful sovereignty: a king who stands firm in his kṣatriya duty and fights to restore legitimate rule can regain the kingdom, illustrated through Indra’s recovery of sovereignty after defeating Vṛtra.
Śalya addresses a Kuru prince (Bhārata/Kauravanandana), offering reassurance and motivation by citing the well-known myth of Indra slaying Vṛtra and thereby attaining his kingdom, implying a similar outcome for the addressee.