Shloka 19
इन्द्रस्य दुःखप्राप्तिः—त्रिशिरोवधः, वृत्रोत्पत्तिः, जृम्भिकाजननम्
Indra’s Distress: Slaying of Triśiras, Birth of Vṛtra, and the Origin of Yawning
यत् ते कार्य महाभाग क्रियतां तदनन्तरम् । वे सब अप्सराएँ (त्रेशिराको विचलित करनेका) पूरा प्रयत्न करके पुनः देवराज इन्द्रकी सेवामें उपस्थित हुईं और हाथ जोड़कर बोलीं--'प्रभो! वे त्रिशिरा बड़े दुर्धर्ष तपस्वी हैं, उन्हें धैर्यसे विचलित नहीं किया जा सकता। महाभाग! अब आपको जो कुछ करना हो, उसे कीजिये” || १७-१८ ह ।। सम्पूज्याप्सरस: शक्रो विसृज्य च महामति:
yat te kāryaṃ mahābhāga kriyatāṃ tadanantaram | sampūjyāpsarasaḥ śakro visṛjya ca mahāmatiḥ ||
“O greatly fortunate one, whatever task you have in mind—let it be done immediately thereafter.” Having duly honored the Apsarases and then dismissed them, Śakra (Indra), the great-minded one, proceeded to act. (The Apsarases, after striving with all their might to unsettle Triśiras, returned to Indra’s service and, with hands joined, said: “Lord! Triśiras is a formidable ascetic; his steadfastness cannot be shaken by temptation. O noble one, now do whatever must be done.”)
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true discipline and inner steadiness are not easily overturned by external allure; it also implicitly critiques how authority may seek alternative strategies when moral persuasion fails, inviting reflection on ethical means versus desired ends.
After the Apsarases have been honored and dismissed, the speaker urges that whatever Indra intends to do next should be carried out; it functions as a transition from an attempted seduction/temptation episode to Indra’s subsequent course of action.