Shloka 336
पृष्ठतोडनुययौ यान्तं वरदं वृषभध्वजम् । देवताओंसहित इन्द्र भी ऐरावत हाथीपर आरूढ़ हो (भद्रवटको) जाते हुए वरदायक भगवान् वृषभध्वजके पीछे-पीछे चल रहे थे
pṛṣṭhato 'nuyayau yāntaṃ varadaṃ vṛṣabhadhvajam | devatābhiḥ sahita indro 'pi airāvata-hastipar ārūḍhaḥ (bhadravaṭakaṃ) gataḥ—varadāyakaṃ bhagavantaṃ vṛṣabhadhvajaṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ anvagacchat |
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “As the boon-giving Lord, whose banner bears the bull, proceeded on his way, Indra too—accompanied by the gods and mounted upon the elephant Airāvata—followed behind him as he went toward Bhadravaṭaka.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights humility and proper reverence: even Indra, lord of the gods, follows the boon-giving Vṛṣabhadhvaja (Śiva), implying that true greatness is recognized by honoring the highest source of grace and righteousness.
As Śiva (the bull-bannered, boon-giving lord) proceeds toward Bhadravaṭaka, Indra—mounted on Airāvata and accompanied by other gods—walks behind him in attendance, emphasizing Śiva’s preeminence in that moment.