Shloka 166
इन्द्रस्य दुःखप्राप्तिः—त्रिशिरोवधः, वृत्रोत्पत्तिः, जृम्भिकाजननम्
Indra’s Distress: Slaying of Triśiras, Birth of Vṛtra, and the Origin of Yawning
इन्द्रियाणि वशे कृत्वा पूर्वसागरसंनिभ: । शल्य बोले--राजन्! इन्द्रकी आज्ञा पाकर वे सब अप्सराएँ त्रिशिराके समीप गयीं। वहाँ उन सुन्दरियोंने भाँति-भाँतिके हाव-भावोंद्वारा उन्हें लुभानेका प्रयत्न किया तथा प्रतिदिन विश्वरूपको अपने अंगोंके सौन्दर्यका दर्शन कराया। तथापि वे महातपस्वी महर्षि उन सबको देखते हुए हर्ष आदि विकारोंको नहीं प्राप्त हुए; अपितु वे इन्द्रियोंको वशमें करके पूर्वसागरके समान शान्तभावसे बैठे रहे
indriyāṇi vaśe kṛtvā pūrvasāgarasaṁnibhaḥ |
Śalya said: Having brought his senses under control, he remained calm like the Eastern Ocean. Even when, by Indra’s command, the apsarases approached Triśiras and tried in many alluring ways—daily displaying to Viśvarūpa the beauty of their limbs—the great ascetic seer, though seeing them, did not fall into excitement or other emotional disturbances. Instead, mastering the senses, he sat in unshaken tranquility.
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights indriya-nigraha (mastery of the senses): even powerful external temptations do not disturb one who is established in tapas and inner steadiness. Ethical strength is shown as calm restraint rather than reactive emotion.
Indra sends apsarases to entice Triśiras/Viśvarūpa. They attempt to lure him through seductive gestures and repeated displays of beauty, but the ascetic remains unmoved, sitting peacefully like the ocean, having subdued his senses.