Shloka 8
इन्द्रस्य दुःखप्राप्तिः—त्रिशिरोवधः, वृत्रोत्पत्तिः, जृम्भिकाजननम्
Indra’s Distress: Slaying of Triśiras, Birth of Vṛtra, and the Origin of Yawning
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्या भारत उद्योगपवकि अन्तर्गत सेनोट्रोगपर्वमें शल्यवाक्यविषयक आठवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,कथं सज्जेच्च भोगेषु न च तप्येन्महत् तपः । विवर्धमानस्त्रिशिरा: सर्व हि भुवनं ग्रसेत् “क्या उपाय किया जाय, जिससे यह भोगोंमें आसक्त हो जाय और भारी तपस्यामें प्रवृत्त न हो? क्योंकि यह वृद्धिको प्राप्त हुआ त्रिशिरा तीनों लोकोंको अपना ग्रास बना लेगा'
kathaṁ sajjec ca bhogeṣu na ca tapyen mahat tapaḥ | vivardhamānas triśirāḥ sarvaṁ hi bhuvanaṁ graset ||
Indra thought: “What means should be adopted so that he becomes attached to pleasures and does not undertake severe austerity? For if Triśiras continues to grow in power, he will indeed swallow up the whole world.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical anxiety about unchecked ascetic power: intense tapas can generate formidable, even world-threatening potency. It also exposes a morally fraught tactic—diverting someone into sensual pleasures (bhoga) to prevent the rise of destructive power—raising questions about ends versus means in governance and conflict.
Śalya voices a strategic concern about Triśiras: if he continues severe austerities and grows in strength, he could overwhelm the worlds. Therefore, Śalya asks what plan could make him incline toward pleasures instead, so that he does not pursue great tapas.